PG&E races to restore power to 130K San Francisco customers, and here’s what caused the devastating substation fire that triggered chaos

PG&E is racing to restore power to 130,000 San Francisco customers after a catastrophic substation fire triggered one of the city’s most devastating blackouts in recent memory. The utility expects full restoration by 2 p.m. Monday, more than 48 hours after the initial outage struck Saturday afternoon.

The Massive Substation Fire That Darkened San Francisco

At 1:09 p.m. Saturday, PG&E experienced the first outages, which rapidly escalated into a catastrophic blackout. The situation intensified when a fire broke out inside the utility’s substation at Eighth and Mission Streets around 2:15 p.m., according to San Francisco Fire Department Lt. Mariano Elias. Firefighters responded immediately using specialized carbon dioxide extinguishers designed for electrical fires.

The five-story substation building measures about 100 feet long and became engulfed in smoke. Fire personnel faced unique challenges extinguishing the blaze before smoke could be cleared from the structure. By 6 p.m. Saturday, the fire department had fully extinguished the flames, allowing PG&E investigators to enter and assess damage.

PG&E confirmed the substation damage was “significant and extensive” with repairs requiring complex and methodical work. The damage triggered cascading effects across interconnected power systems serving the city, ultimately cutting electricity to nearly one-third of PG&E’s San Francisco customer base.

Power Restoration Progress and Monday’s Critical Deadline

PG&E has made steady progress through intensive restoration efforts. By 11 p.m. Saturday, crews had restored power to approximately 95,000 customers. Sunday morning updates showed 110,000 customers back online, leaving about 21,000 households without electricity in the Presidio, Richmond District, Golden Gate Park, and downtown areas.

As of Sunday afternoon, approximately 16,000 customers remained without power, a significant improvement from the peak outage. PG&E spokesperson Andrea Borba stated in a 2:30 p.m. Sunday update: “We will continue to work until every single customer has been restored.”

City Resources and Customer Support During Extended Outage

Mayor Daniel Lurie authorized city resources to assist impacted residents. Customers experiencing extended outages can call 211 to arrange hotel room reservations that will be covered by PG&E. The city established a Community Resource Center at 251 18th Avenue in the Richmond District offering charging stations, WiFi access, bottled water, and snacks.

PG&E partnered with the 211 Providers Network to conduct wellness checks via door-to-door visits. The utility also arranged food vouchers and hotel placements for vulnerable and disabled customers through the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. City Hall, the Main Library, and Civic Center departments announced Monday closures due to ongoing power issues.

The blackout severely disrupted holiday shopping and dining plans. Restaurant owner Susan Molthen described the impact: “I had a party of over 15-16 people Saturday night and I had to call them all to cancel, and I’m out a significant amount of money.”

Widespread Economic and Transportation Impacts Across San Francisco

The outage paralyzed transportation systems throughout the city. BART bypassed Powell and Civic Center stations, while Muni’s K, L, M, and J trains ceased underground operations. Waymo’s autonomous taxi service halted operations Bay Area-wide as driverless vehicles became stranded at intersections. Traffic lights malfunctioned along Fulton Street, 25th Avenue, Balboa Street, and 24th Avenue, creating gridlock conditions.

Retail operations suffered significant losses. Laundromat owner Jesse Ahluwalia reported machines automatically locked, trapping customers’ clothing inside. He faced not only lost daily revenue but the cost of rewashing all affected items. Restaurants, cafes, Pilates studios, and shops across Richmond and Sunset districts remained shuttered Sunday as restoration continued.

Residents struggled to adapt. Isabel Romo purchased batteries and supplies to power lanterns and radios. Another resident, Lara Bond, relied on her camping battery pack to charge phones and grind morning coffee. Concerns about refrigerated medications and food spoilage weighed heavily on residents facing 48 additional hours without electricity.

What Challenges Remain and When Will the Crisis End?

PG&E faces an extraordinarily complex restoration process. The utility confirmed this is “a very complex workplan” requiring “the highest amount of safety focus” to ensure safe work actions. Every available engineer and electrician from PG&E has been mobilized into San Francisco to handle repairs and safety inspections.

The substation fire occurred at a facility that NBC Bay Area reported has a history of previous fire incidents and issues with regulators. While the utility has not disclosed the fire’s root cause, PG&E indicated repairs extending into Monday reflect the extensive damage assessment and necessary precautions. Supervisors Alan Wong and Connie Chan called for public hearings and greater PG&E accountability, questioning the utility’s ability to deliver reliable service despite rising customer bills.