Key Takeaways
- Over 20,700 utility customers in San Francisco are still without power after a massive outage on Saturday
- The outage affected 130,000 homes and businesses at its peak, with the majority of outages occurring in the Richmond District
- The cause of the outage is still unknown, but a fire at a PG&E substation may have contributed to the blackouts
- PG&E has restored power to around 95,000 customers and has stabilized the power grid
- The outage has caused significant disruptions to transportation and daily life in the city, with many restaurants and shops forced to close
Introduction to the Outage
The city of San Francisco is still reeling from a massive power outage that occurred on Saturday, leaving over 20,700 utility customers without electricity. The outage, which began at around 1:09 p.m., reached its peak two hours later, with 130,000 homes and businesses affected. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has been working to restore power to the affected areas, and by 11 p.m. Saturday night, they had managed to restore power to around 95,000 customers. However, many residents and businesses are still waiting for the lights to come back on.
The Affected Areas
The majority of the outages appear to be in the heavily residential Richmond District, which is located between Golden Gate Park on the south and the Presidio on the north. This area is home to many families and small businesses, and the power outage has caused significant disruptions to daily life. Many residents have taken to social media to report the outages and share their experiences, with some posting photos of darkened street lights and Christmas decorations. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management has also been using social media to keep residents informed about the situation and to provide updates on the status of the outages.
Cause of the Outage
The cause of the outage is still unknown, but it is believed that a fire at a PG&E substation may have contributed to the blackouts. The fire, which broke out at around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, was reported by fire officials on social media, and it is thought to have occurred at a substation located at 8th and Mission streets. PG&E has said that they have crews on the scene and will share more information as it becomes available. The company has also stated that they have stabilized the power grid and are not expecting any additional outages.
Impact on Transportation and Daily Life
The power outage has had a significant impact on transportation and daily life in San Francisco. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management has reported "significant transit disruptions" citywide, and has urged residents to avoid nonessential travel and to treat down traffic signals as four-way stops. The city’s transportation agencies have also been bypassing some Muni bus and BART train stations due to the power outages, causing further disruptions to commuters. Many restaurants and shops have been forced to close, and residents are being advised to stay indoors and to use flashlights or battery-powered lanterns instead of candles to light their homes.
Response and Recovery Efforts
PG&E has been working around the clock to restore power to the affected areas, and has made significant progress in the past 24 hours. The company has restored power to around 95,000 customers, and has stabilized the power grid to prevent any further outages. The city’s emergency management officials are also working to support residents and businesses affected by the outage, and are providing updates and information on the status of the outages. As the city begins to recover from the outage, residents are being advised to stay safe and to follow any instructions from emergency officials. The cause of the outage is still under investigation, and it is likely that there will be a full review of the incident to determine what happened and how it can be prevented in the future.
