San Francisco Pursues Independence from PG&E for Electricity Supply

San Francisco is taking steps toward establishing its own publicly-owned electricity network, potentially ending its reliance on Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). The move is driven by concerns over high prices and the reliability of the current system.

Legislative Efforts to Facilitate Transition

State Senator Scott Wiener has introduced a bill designed to streamline the process for San Francisco to acquire PG&E’s infrastructure and create a public electricity service. According to Wiener, the legislation will “facilitate the process in which San Francisco [can] buy PG&E to create a public electricity service for the people and the investors.” Telemundo Area de la Bahía

Existing Public Power Program and Local Legislation

San Francisco already operates a public electricity program, CleanPowerSF, through the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. However, customers currently receive a combination of service from CleanPowerSF and PG&E. In addition to the state-level bill, three San Francisco supervisors are advancing local legislation to assess the feasibility of a full transition. Supervisor Alan Wong has reportedly sent letters to city departments to evaluate the practicality of acquiring PG&E assets. Telemundo Area de la Bahía

PG&E’s Response

PG&E has expressed opposition to the initiative, arguing that a government takeover of its network would not necessarily lower costs. In a statement, the company said, “The taking of parts of our network by the government will not create bills less costly… We are focused on lowering costs.” Telemundo Area de la Bahía

Recent Developments

The legislative push comes after a recent power outage in San Francisco affected over 11,000 PG&E customers. Telemundo Area de la Bahía A new bill was introduced on February 23, 2026, to make it easier for San Francisco to break away from PG&E. KPIX