A widespread power failure plunged large parts of San Francisco into darkness on Saturday, 20 December, leaving an estimated 130,000 Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) customers without electricity and causing significant disruption across the city.
Citywide Chaos as Traffic Signals Fail
The blackout, which affected roughly 30% of PG&E's San Francisco customer base, led to the failure of traffic signals in numerous neighbourhoods. This created immediate gridlock and hazardous driving conditions. Mayor Daniel Lurie addressed the public via social media, urging residents to "please stay off the roads and stay inside" due to the non-functioning lights. He confirmed that police officers were being deployed to manage major intersections.
Autonomous Fleet Brought to a Standstill
The infrastructure failure had a direct and visible impact on emerging technology. Waymo's fleet of driverless robotaxis, which operates without safety drivers in the city, was unable to navigate the darkened streets. Social media was quickly filled with photos and videos showing the autonomous vehicles frozen in place at intersections and on roads, with queues of human-driven cars building up behind them.
In response, Waymo took the decision to suspend its ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area. "We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services... due to the widespread power outage," said company spokesperson Suzanne Philion. She added that teams were working with city officials to restore services.
Revealing a Reliance on Infrastructure
The incident highlighted a critical vulnerability for autonomous vehicle services. While companies like Waymo promote their safety records compared to human drivers, the blackout demonstrated how external infrastructure failures beyond their control can completely halt operations. The vehicles, reliant on constant data and communication, appeared confused by the loss of functioning traffic signals and ambient urban lighting.
Eyewitness accounts described clusters of multiple immobile Waymo vehicles, with some locations seeing up to six taxis stationary as rain fell and other drivers carefully manoeuvred around them.
By Saturday evening, PG&E was working to restore power, but the event served as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of urban systems and the new challenges posed by integrating advanced technology into city life.
