Large Swaths Of San Francisco Descend Into Darkness Amid Power Outage, Waymo Vehicles Stall In Streets

A massive power outage plunged nearly a third of San Francisco into darkness Saturday, knocking out traffic signals and stranding autonomous Waymo vehicles at intersections across the city.

The outage began as early as 9:40 a.m. and left approximately 130,000 customers without electricity, SFGATE reported. Waymo suspended its ride-hailing service by 8 p.m. after its driverless cars created traffic jams at intersections where signals had gone dark.

“We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services given the broad power outage in San Francisco,” Waymo spokesperson Suzanne Philion told the outlet. “We are focused on keeping our riders safe and ensuring emergency personnel have the clear access they need to do their work.”

Pedestrians captured videos of stalled Waymo vehicles stuck at intersections with their hazard lights flashing. The autonomous cars appeared unable to function properly without working traffic signals. (RELATED: Here’s Why Your Electricity Bill May Skyrocket This Holiday Season)

Dead waymos all over SF blocking roads due to power outage 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/CAsSxFroX3

— @jason (@Jason) December 21, 2025

The blackout affected large portions of the city, including the Richmond and Sunset districts, Haight Ashbury, Hayes Valley, Forest Hill, all of Golden Gate Park and the Presidio. Parts of downtown and South of Market also lost power.

Pacific Gas and Electric traced the problem to a substation at 8th Street and Mission Streets. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said on Instagram that PG&E crews were assessing damage at the facility. He warned residents that issues could persist “into the early morning hours.”

City officials provided no timeline for when power would return to affected neighborhoods.

The incident exposed vulnerabilities in autonomous vehicle technology, which relies heavily on functioning infrastructure to operate safely on public roads.