Emergency in San Francisco: Power Outage Strikes Richmond, Sunset, Presidio, and Golden Gate Park – Thousands Still Without Power

Published on December 21, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

On Saturday, December 20, 2025, a widespread power outage swept across San Francisco, affecting key areas such as Richmond, Sunset, Presidio, Golden Gate Park, and other northern and western neighborhoods. Approximately 130,000 customers—around 30% of the city’s population—were left without electricity after a fire broke out at a PG&E substation in the South of Market (SoMa) area.

What Happened?

The cause of the power outage was identified as a one-alarm fire at the PG&E substation located at 8th and Mission Streets. The San Francisco Fire Department responded promptly, arriving at the scene around 3:15 PM. They used carbon dioxide to put out the blaze, while PG&E worked swiftly to stabilize the electrical grid. The fire’s origin is still under investigation by PG&E, with no clear cause provided as of Sunday morning, December 21, 2025.

Interestingly, this substation had been the source of another major blackout 22 years ago, on December 21, 2003, when a similar fire knocked out power to thousands of residents.

Where Was the Impact?

The outage primarily affected the northern and western parts of San Francisco, including the Richmond and Sunset Districts, the Presidio, Seacliff, Golden Gate Park, and parts of Downtown and the Western Addition. The power disruption left both residents and businesses in the dark, creating widespread chaos throughout the city.

Key infrastructure systems also took a hit, contributing to an overwhelming sense of “urban paralysis” as the blackout spread:

• BART: The Powell Street and Civic Center stations were closed, halting services temporarily.
• Muni: Trains could not operate in underground Metro and Central Subway tunnels due to a lack of power, causing significant delays and service suspensions.
• Traffic: Hundreds of traffic lights across the city went dark, causing traffic jams and confusion. Emergency services advised residents to treat all dark intersections as four-way stops to avoid accidents.
• Golden Gate Bridge: Though structurally intact, the bridge’s lighting and toll systems were impacted, causing disruptions in traffic flow.

When Did the Power Return?

PG&E worked overnight to stabilize the grid and prevent the outage from expanding further. By Saturday evening, the grid was stabilized, and some neighborhoods regained power within hours. However, as of Sunday morning, many areas remained without electricity. The ongoing investigation by PG&E has yet to provide a clear explanation for the fire’s cause, further adding to the mystery of the incident.

Why Did the Outage Cause So Much Disruption?

The timing of the blackout, just days before the holiday season, exacerbated the effects of the power loss. With thousands of residents stuck at home, many public services were disrupted:

• Public Transit: BART services, including the Powell Street and Civic Center stations, were temporarily halted. Muni services remained heavily affected as the underground tunnels could not be powered. Shuttle buses were deployed to transport passengers between major transit hubs.
• Traffic Issues: The malfunctioning traffic lights across multiple districts created chaos on the streets, especially in the Richmond and Sunset districts. Residents were urged to avoid driving if possible, as traffic congestion continued to build up throughout the evening.
• Golden Gate Bridge: The bridge, a vital transport route, saw increased congestion as holiday travelers faced a backlog due to the previous day’s power outage. Although toll systems were up and running, manual checks caused delays.

How Are Things Recovering?

As of Sunday morning, December 21, 2025, the city is still in recovery mode. Public transit remains disrupted, though BART’s Powell Street and Civic Center stations have reopened, and service is gradually returning to normal, albeit with delays. Muni, on the other hand, continues to rely on shuttle buses between major stations.

• Waymo, the autonomous ride-hailing service, suspended operations during the blackout due to safety risks associated with unlit intersections. However, they have since resumed limited service, with full operations expected soon.
• Traffic Lights: In affected areas like Richmond, Sunset, and SoMa, many traffic signals are still dark or malfunctioning. Police presence has been increased at major intersections to assist with traffic flow and safety.

What Does This Mean for Travel?

Residents and travelers in San Francisco should expect longer-than-usual commute times. Traffic congestion continues to affect the Richmond, Sunset, and SoMa districts, with some routes taking 30 to 45 minutes longer than usual due to dark intersections and wet road conditions. Drivers should remain cautious and follow safety guidelines when navigating these areas.

At the airport, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) faced minimal disruption, with normal operations continuing despite a brief unrelated power flicker. Delays at SFO are expected to be caused more by inclement weather than the blackout. Meanwhile, ferry services on the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay Ferries are running, although overcrowding was a concern on December 20th as passengers flocked to the docks to escape the city’s darkness.

Conclusion

The massive power outage in San Francisco serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of urban infrastructure. While the situation is improving, the lingering disruptions continue to affect daily life and holiday travel in the Bay Area. PG&E is still investigating the cause of the fire, and officials are working to ensure that essential services are restored swiftly and safely.