A massive power outage swept through San Francisco on December 20, 2025, plunging around 130,000 homes and businesses into darkness and causing widespread chaos just before the holidays.
Triggered by a fire at a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) substation, this blackout raised urgent concerns about the utility's reliability and response times, sparking frustration from city officials, including Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly and low-income individuals, faced significant challenges as the outage persisted, prompting city agencies and nonprofits to mobilize emergency support services.
The disruption extended to public transportation, with Muni services severely impacted, while many of Waymo's self-driving robotaxis became stranded at darkened intersections, creating traffic gridlock.
Amid the turmoil, Waymo temporarily halted its robotaxi services, drawing attention to the operational struggles of autonomous vehicles during emergencies and highlighting the need for better crisis management.
As power restoration began shortly after the outage, questions lingered about the infrastructure's resilience and the city's readiness for such significant technological and environmental challenges.