SDGE power outage hits 10,000+ customers across San Diego

San Diego Gas & Electric restored power to more than 10,000 customers across North County after an unplanned outage swept through the region on September 8, affecting communities including Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff-By-The-Sea, and Torrey Pines.

The outage was related to severe weather conditions, according to alerts from the utility. An extreme heat warning had been issued for the San Diego area earlier that day, with temperatures expected to remain elevated into the evening.

A power transmission line silhouetted against a darkening sky, storm clouds gathering overhead, wind-tossed vegetation in the foreground, a neighborhood with darkened homes visible below.

SDGE crews worked to restore service throughout the evening, with estimated restoration times initially set for around 9:00 to 10:30 p.m. Power was fully restored to the affected areas by late evening, according to NBC San Diego.

This outage is smaller than a significant precedent from March 2026, when severe grid stress left 103,000 SDGE customers without power for slightly more than one hour. According to the California Independent System Operator, that earlier incident resulted from a combination of factors: a 500-kilovolt transmission line importing electricity from Arizona was offline for planned maintenance, wind energy production came in lower than expected, and battery storage systems ran out of energy just as demand peaked, triggering an automatic safety shutdown system.

An SDGE utility truck parked near a residential street at dusk, emergency lights reflecting off nearby power poles and lines, a crew member in safety gear checking equipment, warm amber streetlight glow on homes.

To help prevent similar incidents, the California Independent System Operator has said it aims to better track available grid resources and improve monitoring of battery storage systems, particularly when major transmission infrastructure is offline for maintenance.

Sources

KUSI News (Facebook) — Reported more than 10,000 customers lost power in North County areas including Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff-By-The-Sea, and Torrey Pines
Nextdoor — Documented the unplanned outage as related to severe weather with estimated restoration times
NBC San Diego — Confirmed power restoration to affected customers
KESQ — Reported extreme heat warning issued September 8, 2026
San Diego Union-Tribune — Provided analysis of the March 2026 outage affecting 103,000 customers, causes, and grid operator lessons learned

About the author, Chris Martin

Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to some of the most complex issues shaping the American economy today. At ECIKS.org, Chris covers breaking developments across domestic economic policy, business strategy, Wall Street movements, and political decisions that ripple through financial markets. His reporting blends rigorous data analysis with accessible storytelling making critical information useful for investors, entrepreneurs, and engaged citizens alike.