Waymo has announced it is implementing “temporary adjustments” to its robotaxi operations in San Francisco due to a power outage impacting approximately 7,000 PG&E customers across the city.

Service Suspension Details

A screenshot shared on social media reveals that Waymo is informing its San Francisco users that the service is “temporarily paused,” with “freeway routes unavailable” during this disruption.

Company Response

In a statement provided to TechCrunch, a spokesperson for the Alphabet-owned company explained, “We are making temporary adjustments to our service while we monitor local conditions. We know riders depend on us, and we will return to normal operations as soon as possible.”

Previous Power Outage Challenges

This incident is not the first time that power outages have posed challenges for Waymo. In December, several Waymo vehicles became immobilized on city streets during a blackout, and a similar disruption occurred during a traffic standstill caused by a fireworks display at the Golden Gate Bridge on the Fourth of July.

Call for Regulatory Changes

In light of these recurring issues, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has urged for stricter state regulations to “adequately address how autonomous vehicles operate during major incidents, whether planned or unplanned.”