San Francisco's Power Crisis: A Day-Long Outage Leaves Thousands in the Dark
A prolonged power outage has left over 21,000 San Francisco residents without electricity, with PG&E crews still working tirelessly to restore service. The crisis began around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, when the San Francisco Fire Department responded to a fire at a PG&E substation located at 8th and Mission streets. This substation, as Supervisor Matt Dorsey revealed, has a history of causing blackouts, with a previous incident on December 21, 2003, affecting 120,000 customers.
In a statement, PG&E acknowledged the extent of the damage, emphasizing the complexity of the repairs and the need for a meticulous restoration process. By 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, PG&E had managed to restore power to approximately 100,000 customers, leaving 21,000 still without electricity as of Sunday morning. The utility company, however, was unable to provide a precise timeline for the full restoration.
The impact of the outage extended beyond the inconvenience of being without power. It caused chaos on the city's streets, with traffic lights malfunctioning and Waymo's self-driving cars temporarily suspended due to the lack of traffic signals. The affected areas included the Richmond, Sunset, Haight Ashbury, Hayes Valley, Forest Hill, Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, and parts of downtown and South of Market.
As the storm approaches, PG&E emphasizes the importance of safety, urging residents to conserve phone battery, use low-power mode on devices, and keep essential supplies like flashlights and extra batteries nearby. The company's statement highlights the complexity of the work plan, requiring the utmost focus on safety to ensure the well-being of its workers and the community.
Despite the ongoing efforts, PG&E has yet to provide an updated timeline for the remaining 21,000 customers. The situation remains a cause for concern, with the potential for further disruption and the need for continued vigilance from both the utility company and the residents of San Francisco.
