Two separate power outages cut electricity to thousands of Bay Area customers in Sausalito and central San Francisco just as the region was hit by a late-season heatwave.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the two outages affected more than 5,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers, with most service restored as crews worked to address both outages.
Here's what to know
In Sausalito, PG&E reported an outage that impacted about 2,549 customers in a broad stretch of central Sausalito. The impacted area included parts of downtown and the waterfront, where restaurants, galleries, shops, the ferry port, and other businesses are located, the Chronicle reported.
A second unplanned outage affected customers in Cathedral Hill, along with parts of Lower Nob Hill, Japantown, and the Western Addition, the Chronicle reported. PG&E said about 2,665 customers were without power there.
Restoration progressed quickly in San Francisco, where PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian told the Chronicle that only 170 customers remained without power.
In Sausalito, PG&E's outage tracker showed 37 customers still without service.
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According to Sarkissian, the San Francisco outage was linked to a transformer that PG&E found had low oil levels and needed attention. In Sausalito, PG&E said a crew was repairing "third-party damage" to the electrical system, according to the Chronicle.
More background
When the power goes out, it can be much more than a mere inconvenience. Electricity powers air conditioning, refrigeration, and vital medical equipment, making power outages a matter of public health and safety.
If it seems like the power has been going out more than it used to, it might not just be your imagination. A recent study found that power outages have been growing more frequent.
"Power outages, a common and underappreciated consequence of natural disasters, are increasing in number and severity due to climate change and aging electricity grids," wrote the study's authors, whose work was published in the journal Current Environmental Health Reports.
Where can I learn more?
The outages in Sausalito and San Francisco raise questions about grid reliability, wildfire-related shutoffs, and how to prepare at home when the power goes out. These stories look at rising PG&E costs, California battery storage, backup power options, and ways to manage electric bills.
• Across the West Coast, utilities ordered deliberate shutoffs during wildfire risk to prevent sparks.
• In California, PG&E customers could face $840 more a year by 2030.
• Across California, battery storage became a game changer as the state's grid endured heat.
• As outages worsened, homeowners turned to backup batteries and generators to keep essentials running.
• California households shifted cooling to avoid surging energy bills during peak hours.
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