San Francisco PG&E customers await December outage credits as planned shutdowns target Civic Center, Richmond, Sunset
Planned shutoffs follow December substation fire, while some customers report delays in bill credits and claims
San Francisco customers served by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) are facing another round of temporary power interruptions this week as the utility completes repair and switching work tied to a major December outage. At the same time, some residents and business owners say they are still waiting to see promised financial relief reflected on their bills, or are awaiting decisions on claims filed after losses during the blackout.
The disruption traces back to a fire at PG&E’s Mission substation on Dec. 20, 2025, a failure that contributed to a citywide outage affecting roughly 130,000 customers at its peak—about one-third of San Francisco. The substation, near Eighth and Mission streets, is a key node that steps down transmission power for distribution across the city.
The December outage prompted an automatic-credit program intended to provide relief without requiring customers to file paperwork.
PG&E announced on Dec. 22 that residential customers impacted by the Dec. 20 outage would automatically receive a $200 bill credit, while business customers would receive an approximately $2,500 credit. The credit is designed to appear on customer bills as a “Customer Satisfaction Adjustment.” PG&E has also maintained a separate claims process for customers seeking compensation above those amounts.
PG&E’s claims guidance states the company’s goal is to reach a decision within 30 days of receiving a claim, while noting that investigations can take longer depending on complexity or the need for additional documentation. For customers who submitted claims after food spoilage or business interruption, that timeline has become a focal point as some business owners report they have claim numbers but have not yet received reimbursement decisions.
Two overnight outages scheduled to transition service back from temporary equipment
This week’s planned outages are part of what PG&E describes as a two-step process to move neighborhoods back from temporary power arrangements to regular operations after the substation damage.
An overnight shutdown beginning just after midnight Monday, Jan. 19, targeted the Civic Center area and affected about 3,600 customers. Power was restored by Monday morning, after a window that allowed for up to 12 hours of work.
A second outage is scheduled just after midnight Tuesday, Jan. 20, and is expected to last about two hours, affecting about 14,000 customers in the Richmond and Sunset districts.
Beyond homes, the outages have operational consequences for restaurants and retail. Business owners on the west side say the December outage produced significant spoilage losses and forced closures during a high-volume holiday period, heightening sensitivity to even short interruptions. Some businesses report adapting by reducing inventory ahead of the planned shutoff and preparing contingency steps for refrigeration and payment systems.
Mission substation has faced prior scrutiny after earlier fires
Regulatory records and prior reporting show the Mission substation has experienced multiple fires over decades, including a December 20, 2003 incident that led state regulators to penalize PG&E and require spending on substation improvements. The cause of the Dec. 20, 2025 fire has not been publicly confirmed in definitive terms, and PG&E has said it is conducting a review.
For customers still tracking credits, the key test is whether promised bill adjustments appear on upcoming statements and whether claims decisions arrive within the utility’s stated processing targets as planned outages continue into late January.