A late-evening power outage on Saturday plunged large stretches of Sacramento and nearby suburbs into darkness, with residents reporting flickering lights and intersections suddenly stripped of their traffic signals. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District mobilized crews to multiple job sites as teams evaluated damage and worked to bring service back. Utility officials described the outage as widespread and cautioned that full restoration could take time.
SMUD crews race to restore power, but no timeline yet
SMUD said crews were “working to restore power lines on site” and added “it is unclear when power will be restored,” according to ABC10. That reporting noted the utility estimated almost 30,000 people were without electricity at the height of the outage.
Neighborhoods left in the dark
Areas affected included Arden, Carmichael, East Sacramento, Elk Grove, Sacramento Executive Airport, Fair Oaks, Florin, Folsom, Laguna, North Highlands, Oak Park, Orangevale, Rancho Cordova (95670 and 95742), Rancho Murieta, Rio Linda and Wilton/Herald, according to the outage listing reported by ABC10. The blackout spread across residential neighborhoods and key commuter routes, complicating evening travel and basic local services.
How to check your status and stay safe
SMUD is asking customers to report outages through the SMUD app, at the outage center or by texting “OUT” to MYSMUD (697683); non-emergency reports can also be made at 1-888-456-7683, per the SMUD outage center. Anyone who sees downed power lines should call 911 immediately and steer clear of the area until crews secure the scene.
Storm risks are nothing new for the region
Large outages tied to high winds and storm damage are a recurring issue in the Sacramento region, and utilities often stage crews ahead of severe weather to speed up repairs, according to reporting by the Sacramento Bee. For now, SMUD crews remain in the field, evaluating job sites and restoring service where conditions are safe.
