Power Outage Struck Ferry Building and Embarcadero
The outage impacted 455 customers starting early Wednesday morning.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Utilities
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Commuters and morning visitors at the San Francisco Ferry Building faced a power failure that darkened parts of the historic landmark. The disruption also disabled traffic lights and crosswalk signals along the Embarcadero.
Why it matters
The outage forced motorists and pedestrians to navigate major intersections near the waterfront without signals during the busy morning commute. The cause of the failure remains unknown.
A total of 455 customers lost power in the incident. The cause of the failure remains unknown.
The players
San Francisco Ferry Building
The historic waterfront terminal and marketplace served as the primary site of the outage.
The details
The unplanned outage began at 6:42 a.m., leaving most of the Ferry Building without electricity, though the north end retained power. Crews anticipated restoring all service by 12:15 p.m. today. Residents and commuters in the area should exercise caution at intersections where traffic signals are currently non-functional.
Timeline
6:42 a.m., September 30, 2026: Power outage reported.
12:15 p.m., September 30, 2026: Estimated power restoration time.
Across the Bay
This incident follows a pattern of localized grid instability previously seen during the implementation of the 2023 grid modernization project timeline. The failure highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining infrastructure along the waterfront.
Expect traffic delays and dark signals along the Embarcadero through early afternoon. If you are traveling through the waterfront, treat all unpowered intersections as four-way stops.
The takeaway
Travelers should prioritize caution at major Embarcadero intersections until signals are fully operational again. Watch for updates from local utility providers regarding the 12:15 p.m. restoration estimate.
Further reading
For more on grid reliability in the city, check our ongoing coverage of San Francisco Utilities.
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