On Monday afternoon, thousands of San Jose residents were thrown into darkness when a power outage hit approximately 18,000 PG&E customers. The outage spread wide, from San Jose State University's distinguished hallways to local homes in Willow Glen, affecting areas as far as the Santa Clara County fairgrounds and McLaughlin Avenue. According to Mercury News, an equipment failure at a substation was the culprit behind this sudden blackout.

At around 1:30 p.m., intense rainfall battered the city, lights went out, and commerce halted. PG&E struggled to cope with the unexpected substation issue. JD Guidi, a spokesperson for PG&E, stated, "Service was fully restored at 4:14 p.m.," reflecting a swift response to a disruptive event. Meanwhile, San José Clean Energy advised residents via X post to remain cautious around downed power lines and conserve their food's freshness by avoiding frequent refrigerator use.

Power has been restored. https://t.co/wkkdRGiWE7 https://t.co/wF0rbf19J2

— San José Clean Energy (@sjcleanenergy) December 19, 2023

The temporary yet widespread blackout prompted San José Clean Energy to issue safety instructions for the community. They underscored the importance of treating inoperative traffic lights as all-way stops to prevent accidents and emergencies. They also strongly advised against touching downed power lines, urging residents to immediately report such hazards to 911 and PG&E.

The restoration of power by PG&E brought relief to thousands who had been plunged into an unexpected standstill during the day. The quick turnaround by utility workers demonstrates efficiency in crises, and their official updates gave peace of mind to those counting minutes in the dark.