A large-scale electricity outage affected wide areas of San Francisco early on Sunday, leaving around 130,000 homes and businesses without power, according to city officials. The disruption, which impacted approximately one third of electricity customers, caused immediate difficulties for transport, retail and public services. The incident is reported by The WP Times, citing the original coverage by NBC News.

Districts affected

City authorities said the outage was concentrated in northern and north-western San Francisco, including several densely populated neighbourhoods:

  • Richmond District, where power was lost along Geary Boulevard, Clement Street and California Street
  • Presidio and Park Presidio, including stretches of Lombard Street, Letterman Drive and nearby residential roads
  • Areas bordering Golden Gate Park, with outages reported along Lincoln Way and adjacent blocks

Street lighting failed across multiple areas, while shops, offices and residential buildings were left without electricity.

Impact on transport and public safety

The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management warned of significant disruption to traffic, after traffic signals stopped operating at dozens of junctions. Particular concern was raised about major east–west routes linking residential districts with the city centre. Residents were advised to avoid unnecessary travel while emergency crews were deployed to manage unlit intersections and ensure public safety.

Key figures

Officials confirmed that:

  • about 130,000 electricity connections were affected
  • more than 30 per cent of city customers temporarily lost power
  • dozens of intersections were left without functioning traffic lights
  • numerous retail and hospitality businesses were forced to close

Public transport services operated with delays while safety systems were checked.

Cause and restoration efforts

The city’s electricity provider said the blackout was likely the result of a technical fault within the distribution network. No evidence of external interference was reported. Repair teams were dispatched to several locations, and electricity was restored gradually, street by street.

While power returned to some areas within hours, parts of the Richmond District remained without electricity later in the morning. Residents were advised not to overload electrical systems until the grid was confirmed to be stable.

Economic considerations

The outage came days before Christmas, a period of heightened economic activity. Retailers and restaurants reported lost trading hours, disrupted electronic payments and damage to refrigerated stock. City officials said the financial impact was still being assessed.

Broader context

The incident follows a series of major power outages internationally in 2025, including disruptions earlier this year in Spain, Portugal and Andorra, with secondary effects reported in France and Belgium. Analysts have pointed to ageing infrastructure and increasing demand as persistent challenges for large urban electricity networks.

Official guidance

Authorities advised residents to:

  • treat non-functioning traffic lights as four-way stops
  • limit travel where possible
  • reconnect sensitive electrical equipment only once full stability is confirmed
  • rely on official updates from emergency services and the electricity provider

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