Full Breakdown
San Francisco Power Outage Disrupts City and Halts Self-Driving Cars
12/22/2025, 12:09:39 AM
Overview of the Power Outage
On December 20, 2025, a significant power outage in San Francisco affected approximately 130,000 homes and businesses, representing about one-third of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) customers in the city. The blackout began in the Richmond and Presidio neighborhoods and quickly spread to areas around Golden Gate Park. Fire officials indicated that at least part of the outage was linked to a fire at a PG&E substation located at 8th and Mission streets.
Impact on Transportation and Services
The outage caused extensive disruptions across the city, particularly affecting public transportation and autonomous vehicle operations. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management reported "significant transit disruptions," urging residents to avoid nonessential travel and treat non-functioning traffic signals as four-way stops. Many restaurants and shops closed due to the lack of power, and streetlights and holiday decorations went dark.
Self-driving cars, particularly those operated by Waymo, were notably impacted. The vehicles became stalled in the streets, unable to function without operational traffic signals. Waymo announced the temporary suspension of its ride-hailing services, stating, “We are focused on keeping our riders safe and ensuring emergency personnel have the clear access they need to do their work.” Eyewitness accounts described scenes of traffic congestion, with Waymo vehicles parked in intersections, contributing to significant delays.
Restoration Efforts
By late Saturday night, PG&E reported that power had been restored to about 95,000 customers, leaving approximately 35,000 still without electricity. Crews continued to work throughout the night to restore power to the remaining areas. PG&E later confirmed that the power grid had stabilized, although it could not guarantee when all customers would have their electricity restored.
Criticism and Opposition
While the outage was attributed to a fire at a PG&E substation, the utility company faced scrutiny regarding its infrastructure and emergency response. Critics have raised concerns about the reliability of PG&E's services, especially given the widespread impact of the outage on both residents and businesses.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
There were discrepancies in the timeline of the outage's progression and the exact cause of the substation fire. While fire officials indicated the fire contributed to the blackout, PG&E did not immediately confirm this connection. Additionally, reports varied on the number of customers affected and the speed of restoration efforts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services in the San Francisco Bay Area due to the widespread power outage,” — Suzanne Philion, Waymo Spokesperson
- “significant transit disruptions” — San Francisco Department of Emergency Management
As restoration efforts continue, the situation remains fluid, with city officials and utility teams working to address the ongoing challenges posed by the outage.
