San Francisco experienced a major power outage during the peak holiday weekend after a fire at a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) electrical substation at 8th and Mission streets caused extensive damage and left approximately 130,000 homes and businesses without electricity.
The outage began on Saturday afternoon, disrupted transportation systems and local travel, and forced closures of shops, transit services and traffic signals across the city. Power was gradually restored by Sunday morning, but an estimated 17,000–21,000 customers still lacked electricity as crews continued repair efforts.
The blackout affected roughly one-third of the city’s utility customers and compounded disruptions during a busy holiday travel period in one of the United States’ major urban destinations. City officials and utility personnel worked through the weekend to restore service while urging caution on roadways and advising travelers and residents to limit non-essential travel due to traffic signal failures and transit interruptions.
Disruption to Transit and Road Travel
The outage caused significant interruptions to San Francisco’s transportation network across multiple modes. Transit services, including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Municipal Railway (Muni), faced delays or closure of key stations and routes, with some downtown stops bypassed or suspended while the blackout persisted. Traffic signals throughout large sections of the city were inoperative, resulting in congested intersections and snarled road traffic as drivers navigated darkened streets.
Videos shared on social media showed autonomous taxis, including Waymo vehicles, stalled in intersections with hazard lights activated after traffic lights failed, adding to road congestion. Waymo temporarily suspended its autonomous ride-hailing operations across the city as a safety precaution during the outage, and service only resumed after the bulk of power was restored and traffic controls returned to operation. Reports indicated that Tesla’s autonomous vehicle services did not experience the same widespread interruption, although the primary focus remained on public and commercial travel services affected by the blackout.
Massive power outage leaves 125,000+ homes & businesses in the dark.
Traffic lights dead, roads jammed, driverless cars stuck mid-road.
This is Saturday night in one of the world’s top tech cities!#SanFrancisco #PowerOutage #PGE #Blackout #Shocking #SFChaos #DriverlessCars… pic.twitter.com/LbiWF3p0wd— AISHVARYA JAIN (@aishvaryjain) December 21, 2025
Public Transport Impact
San Francisco’s rapid transit networks, central to local travel, were also affected. BART service was temporarily halted at certain stations, and Muni services such as the Central Subway were disrupted, complicating travel for both residents and visitors. Operators adjusted service plans and implemented temporary turn-back procedures on lines to compensate for the outage’s impact on electrical systems that power trains and station facilities. These adjustments added to delays and reduced capacity during peak travel periods, affecting those relying on public transit to reach shopping districts, holiday events and airport connections.
Effects on Local Services and Businesses
Retail shops, restaurants and cultural venues in major commercial corridors felt the immediate effects of the blackout. Several businesses curtailed operations or closed early due to the power loss, reducing foot traffic in districts that are normally bustling during the holiday season. Local officials described unusually quiet scenes in some shopping areas as the outage coincided with a crucial weekend for seasonal commerce. City Hall and other municipal offices remained closed on Monday as restoration work continued.
In response to the substation fire and its consequences, officials emphasized the complexity of repair work and the continued need for safety-focused restoration efforts. PG&E deployed additional engineers and electricians to assess and address the extensive damage at the substation, which the utility described as significant and requiring time to ensure safe and stable power restoration for all affected customers. As of late Sunday and into Monday, officials expected full restoration no later than early afternoon, though localized outages persisted in neighborhoods including Presidio, Richmond, Sunset District and parts of downtown.
City authorities and the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management issued guidance to residents and visitors to manage safety during the outage. Motorists were advised to treat non-functional traffic signals as four-way stops, and avoid non-essential travel where possible to reduce congestion and risk at darkened intersections. Police officers were deployed to critical intersections to help manage traffic flow and maintain safety as signal systems were offline.
Emergency messaging also urged caution around transit hubs and highlighted the importance of monitoring official updates for continued restoration efforts and travel advisories. No injuries were reported in connection with the outage or the substation fire, but the disruption underscored vulnerabilities in the city’s electrical infrastructure and its wider impact on daily travel and commerce. PG&E and city officials have indicated that investigations into the cause of the fire and resulting blackout are ongoing, and that findings may inform future infrastructure planning and emergency response protocols.
