A massive power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, plunging large sections of the city into darkness and cutting electricity to roughly 130,000 homes and businesses. As traffic lights failed and transit systems faltered, self-driving vehicles stalled mid-intersection, compounding the chaos for residents already grappling with the blackout.
The outage affected nearly one-third of all utility customers citywide, triggering widespread disruption and raising fresh concerns about infrastructure resilience in one of America’s most tech-driven cities.
Substation Fire Sparks Widespread Blackout
At first, the cause of the sudden blackout remained unclear. However, fire officials later confirmed that at least part of the outage stemmed from a fire that broke out inside a utility substation near 8th and Mission streets at approximately 3:15 p.m.
The power failure initially struck the city’s north side, impacting the Richmond and Presidio neighborhoods along with areas surrounding Golden Gate Park. Over the next several hours, the outage spread further, darkening additional neighborhoods as Saturday afternoon turned into evening.
Utility Describes Damage as Severe and Complex
By early Sunday morning, utility officials acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead. In a public update, PG&E said the damage caused by the substation fire was “significant and extensive,” warning customers that repairs would take time.
The company stressed that restoring full service would not be straightforward. “At this time, we are unable to provide a precise timeframe for full restoration but will provide additional detail and information as our assessment and repair efforts continue,” the utility said in the update posted on X.
Crews continued working overnight as engineers assessed the damage and stabilized affected systems.
Self-Driving Cars Stall as Traffic Signals Fail
Meanwhile, the outage created a uniquely modern problem. Autonomous vehicles were left stranded in the middle of streets, reportedly unable to detect intersections where traffic lights had gone dark.
The stalled vehicles quickly contributed to traffic jams across affected neighborhoods. Drivers navigated intersections cautiously as congestion built, while emergency officials urged patience and caution.
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management warned residents that there were “significant transit disruptions” across the city and advised people to avoid nonessential travel. Officials also urged drivers to treat all nonfunctioning traffic signals as four-way stops.
Waymo Suspends Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service
As conditions deteriorated, Waymo confirmed it had temporarily suspended its autonomous ride-hailing service throughout the Bay Area due to the widespread outage.
“We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services in the San Francisco Bay Area due to the widespread power outage,” the company told in an emailed statement.
“Our teams are working diligently and in close coordination with city officials to monitor infrastructure stability, and we are hopeful to bring our services back online soon. We appreciate your patience and will provide further updates as soon as they are available.”
The decision left some riders without transportation options and highlighted how heavily autonomous systems rely on basic infrastructure like electricity and functioning traffic controls.
Power Gradually Restored, Thousands Still Without Electricity
Despite the challenges, progress was made overnight. PG&E said crews worked through the night to restore service to affected customers.
As of 7:30 a.m. Sunday, electricity had been restored to approximately 110,000 customers. However, about 21,000 customers remained without power, primarily in the Presidio, the Richmond District, Golden Gate Park, and small areas of downtown San Francisco.
For many residents, the outage underscored lingering questions about the city’s preparedness for large-scale failures. As repairs continue, officials say full restoration remains the priority, but the weekend blackout is likely to leave a lasting impression.
