Around 9:25pm tonight, a blackout occurred in parts of the Richmond District, Laurel Heights and Presidio Heights. Based on reports from readers and the info on PG&E’s power outage line, the blackout ran from Arguello out to Park Presidio, and from Lake over to Geary Street.
The Examiner reports that the outage was due to “an underground equipment failure”:
The outage, which took place around 9:27 p.m., affected 3,660 customers north of Geary between Lyon Street and 24th Avenue, PG&E spokesman J.D. Guidi said.
The outage was spotty with some blocks in the dark, while others right next to them were lit. Check out the above video.
Some readers reported sitting in the dark, while others experienced flickering but no complete outages.
Power was restored around 10:30pm, despite PG&E’s outage line saying we should not expect to have power back on until 12:15am.
Were you affected by the blackout? I made sure to polish off any ice cream in the freezer. How did you pass the time?
Sarah B.
I was in the middle of frying an egg and had been working on getting some eggshells out. Then the blackout occurred. I finished cooking the egg with residual heat and just ate the bits of eggshells. 🙁 I ate by candle light.
I spent the time putting out my garbage and conducting traffic at Arguello & Lake! Horrible as people flew through the intersection going 30mph and blowing through the intersection. I asked the police down the street for help with flares and they did nothing!
@Erik – Yikes, that is one of the worst intersections in the neighborhood. I guess they had their hands full with California & Arguello, also a notoriously bad intersection. Thx for helping out!
Lit candles with my roommate, chatted with her while I was checking twitter/fb/guywhostolemymacbook.tumblr.com and she was playing with playdoh. Good times.
Didn’t have blackout here at 5th and Geary. Wouldn’t have minded since candles are quite cool! The city should have an hour of darkness per week to save energy and give people an excuse to do other things that don’t require electricity. 🙂
5th/anza was good. I was on FB reading this blog’s page. LOL. 🙂
Yep, in the dark on my block, too. Groped around in the kitchen for the flashlight, found 3 small ones, one with no batteries. I think it was out almost an hour or so? I’ve never seen the neighborhood so dark, or heard it so quiet.
Hope PG&E gives a more detailed explanation of the cause… this company gets away with murder.
I must live right across California from you, Sarah, as I recognize the 12th//California intersection in your video. I lost power as well, and I enjoyed sitting in my living room listening to the sounds of the people on my block – sounds that are normally drowned out by the noises of electrified modern life. Talking, laughing, dishes clanging…it made me wish I knew some of my neighbors better.
I was not effected but after san bruno I do not trust pg&e