An SF power outage struck more than 40,000 customers across the west side Saturday morning, creating widespread disruptions across neighborhoods and businesses. Two separate unplanned PG&E outages hit the city within 30 minutes, affecting the Inner Sunset, Forest Hill, Presidio, Richmond, and sections of Market Street. The utility estimated power restoration between 3:30 PM and 3:45 PM PST.
🔥 Quick Facts
- 40,000+ customers without power across west San Francisco neighborhoods on December 20, 2025
- Two separate outages: 9:40 AM (14,600 customers) and 10:10 AM (24,800+ customers) reported to PG&E
- Areas impacted: Inner Sunset, Forest Hill, Presidio, Richmond, and parts of Market Street
- Estimated restoration window: 3:30 PM – 3:45 PM PST (as of 2:00 PM Saturday)
Multiple Outages Strike West Side Neighborhoods
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The first outage hit San Francisco around 9:40 AM Saturday morning, affecting 14,600 residential and commercial customers in the Inner Sunset neighborhood extending down to Forest Hill. Within 30 minutes, a second larger outage began at approximately 10:10 AM, disabling power across the Presidio, Richmond district, and several Market Street sections.
Combined, the two separate outages impacted more than 40,000 customers across predominantly western portions of the city. According to spokesman from Pacific Gas & Electric, these were unplanned outages with no immediate cause identified. The company deployed full restoration efforts immediately upon discovery.
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Several smaller additional outages were also reported in other west San Francisco regions, affecting several hundred more customers. PG&E estimated these smaller outages would be restored between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM on Saturday evening.
Critical Safety Measures During the Disruption
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management issued immediate advisories warning that the large-scale outages could be impacting street lights throughout affected neighborhoods. The department asked all drivers to treat every darkened traffic signal as a four-way stop to prevent traffic accidents and collisions.
Hospitals, emergency services, and commercial facilities relying on backup generators activated emergency power systems immediately. The power loss disrupted normal business operations across retail stores, restaurants, offices, and other facilities dependent on continuous electricity in the affected west side neighborhoods.
Residents were advised to check on elderly neighbors and those dependent on electrically-powered medical equipment. Many families lost refrigeration capacity, potentially affecting perishable food items during the multi-hour outage period on Saturday afternoon.
Business and Customer Impact Timeline on Saturday
| Time | Event/Impact |
| 9:40 AM | First outage reported; 14,600 customers lose power in Inner Sunset-Forest Hill area |
| 10:10 AM | Second major outage begins; 24,800+ additional customers affected across Presidio, Richmond, Market Street |
| 2:00 PM | PG&E estimates restoration window between 3:30 PM-3:45 PM |
| 3:30-3:45 PM | Target restoration time for main outages (40,000+ customers) |
| 6:00-9:00 PM | Estimated restoration for smaller secondary outages in other west side areas |
PG&E Restoration Efforts and Cause Investigation
Pacific Gas & Electric company activated maximum restoration resources immediately upon the outages being reported Saturday morning. The utility had not disclosed the underlying cause of either outage as of early afternoon. Engineers and technicians were deployed to affected neighborhoods to identify infrastructure issues causing the simultaneous power loss.
PG&E spokesman indicated that the outages appeared to stem from equipment or transmission problems rather than planned maintenance events. The utility has real-time outage maps available through their website, allowing customers to search specific addresses for restoration estimates and impact details.
Is Your Neighborhood Affected by Saturday’s Outages?
If you live in San Francisco’s west side neighborhoods, check PG&E’s official outage map at pgealerts.alerts.pge.com to determine your specific restoration timeline. Customers can also text “Status” to 97503 anytime to receive outage information for their address. The company also recommends downloading the official PG&E Outages App for real-time updates.
Submit outage reports directly to PG&E via phone at 1-800-752-4743 or through their website. The utility asks customers to avoid downed power lines and report any hazards they encounter. Backup power solutions, including generators and battery systems, should be safely operated outdoors only to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Sources
- San Francisco Chronicle – Real-time reporting on PG&E outage affecting 40,000 customers and restoration timeline
- Pacific Gas & Electric Company – Official outage information, restoration estimates, and customer resources
- San Francisco Department of Emergency Management – Public safety advisories and traffic guidance for affected neighborhoods
Patrick Graham is a business and finance journalist translating Wall Street’s complexities into stories that matter to everyday readers. With extensive experience in financial journalism and economic analysis, this expert journalist provides sharp insights on market trends, corporate developments, and the economic forces affecting daily life. His reporting helps readers make sense of the business world’s biggest moves.