San Francisco Lawmakers Push to Break from PG&E After Major Blackouts

City leaders renew efforts to establish a public utility after widespread power outages and dissatisfaction with PG&E's response.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Following widespread power outages in San Francisco that left over 130,000 residents without electricity for up to three days, city officials have reignited their push to buy out PG&E and establish a publicly-owned utility. Supporters argue this would provide lower rates for consumers compared to the private utility company, which they say has failed to adequately maintain its infrastructure and respond effectively to outages.

Why it matters

San Francisco's efforts to break from PG&E highlight growing frustrations with the private utility company's performance and the desire for more local control over power infrastructure and rates. This aligns with a broader trend of cities and municipalities seeking to establish public power options as an alternative to large, investor-owned utilities.

The details

In December 2025, a fire at a PG&E substation caused a major blackout that left over 130,000 San Franciscans without power for up to three days. City officials, including Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, have criticized PG&E's response, saying the company provided incorrect updates on when power would be restored. This has reignited the city's longstanding efforts to buy out PG&E's operations and establish a publicly-owned utility, similar to what Sacramento and Palo Alto have done in recent years.

  • In December 2025, a fire at a PG&E substation caused a major blackout that left over 130,000 San Franciscans without power for up to three days.
  • On Monday, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood recalled the blackout and participated in a public hearing where city officials grilled PG&E over the causes and responses during the outages.

The players

Bilal Mahmood

A San Francisco Supervisor who represents the Tenderloin and Nob Hill neighborhoods, and who has been critical of PG&E's response to the December 2025 blackout.

PG&E

The private utility company that provides electricity to San Francisco, which has faced criticism over infrastructure maintenance and its response to power outages.

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What they’re saying

“Residents in my district were without power. Food was spoiling, heat wasn't working. And PG&E left people waiting for minutes, then hours, and then days.”

— Bilal Mahmood, San Francisco Supervisor (kqed.org)

“Their answers bordered on comedy. It was clear after the hearing that PG&E has neither the ability nor the interest of San Franciscans in mind. It's time to chart our own destiny and make progress towards public power.”

— Bilal Mahmood, San Francisco Supervisor (kqed.org)

What’s next

City officials are expected to continue their push to establish a publicly-owned utility, which would likely involve a lengthy process of negotiating with PG&E and overcoming the company's legal challenges.

The takeaway

San Francisco's efforts to break from PG&E highlight the growing frustrations that many cities have with large, investor-owned utilities and the desire for more local control over power infrastructure and rates. This aligns with a broader trend of municipalities seeking public power options as an alternative to private utilities.