PG&E begins planned overnight outages in San Francisco to transition customers back from temporary power
What is happening
Planned PG&E outages began in San Francisco as crews work to shift customers from temporary power systems back onto standard electrical service following damage at the Mission Substation. The controlled shutoffs are designed to support switching work and equipment changes that cannot be completed safely while circuits remain energized.
The planned interruptions follow a major citywide outage that started on December 20, 2025, when a fire inside a PG&E substation near 8th and Mission streets caused extensive damage and left roughly 130,000 customers without electricity at its peak. Power was restored over subsequent days, but parts of the city continued operating on temporary systems while repairs and reconfiguration work continued.
Where and when outages are scheduled
Civic Center: an outage scheduled to begin shortly after midnight on Monday, January 19, 2026, with an estimated duration of up to 12 hours, affecting about 3,600 homes and businesses.
Richmond District: an outage scheduled to begin shortly after midnight on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, expected to last roughly two hours and affecting about 14,000 homes and businesses.
PG&E has said affected customers are to be notified through automated channels such as text messages, voicemails, and email. Outage timing can shift depending on field conditions and the sequencing needed to complete switching operations.
Why planned outages are being used
Following the December substation fire, PG&E relied on temporary generation and alternate configurations to keep electricity available while repairs progressed. In late December, the company carried out additional planned work in the Richmond District and Golden Gate Park area to remove temporary generators and transfer thousands of customers back to the grid.
Planned outages differ from rotating outages, which are emergency load-shedding events ordered to protect the broader power grid during supply shortfalls. Rotating outages—when used—are typically short and implemented in blocks, while planned outages are scheduled for specific work and can vary in length based on the task.
What residents and businesses can expect
For residents, the most immediate impact is the overnight-to-morning loss of electricity, which can disrupt heating, refrigeration, and internet service. For businesses, planned interruptions can affect point-of-sale systems, lighting, and food safety operations. Customers dependent on electrically powered medical devices are generally advised to maintain backup plans and confirm how to reach their utility or emergency services if needed during an outage.
When outages are planned for switching work, the duration is an estimate and may change as crews complete safety checks and return circuits to service.
The outages come amid heightened public scrutiny of reliability in San Francisco after the December incident and additional weather-related disruptions in late December. Citywide, the events have renewed attention on how quickly temporary configurations can be retired and customers restored to normal service after major equipment damage.