A sudden power outage plunged parts of Paris and neighbouring Hauts-de-Seine into darkness on Thursday morning, briefly disrupting daily routines across the densely populated region. French media reported that around 55,000 homes were affected as electricity cut out during the early rush hour.
The blackout struck several neighbourhoods shortly after dawn, switching off streetlights and traffic signals. Commuters waking up to prepare for work found parts of the city unexpectedly dark, prompting confusion on busy streets and junctions.
According to a report by Euro News, the outage was first noticed shortly after 7 am local time. Energy provider Enedis told Le Parisien that although the incident was short-lived—lasting “five minutes”—power restoration was uneven across the city.
By 7:10 am, approximately 55,000 homes remained without electricity.
Crews were quickly deployed, and by 7:50 am the number dropped to about 2,600 as engineers worked to stabilise supply across southern Paris and Issy-les-Moulineaux.
Officials linked the outage to a technical fault at an RTE substation in Issy-les-Moulineaux.
RTE, responsible for operating France’s high-voltage electricity grid, confirmed the issue, describing it as a “technical incident… involving 200 megawatts.”
The company issued an apology for the disruption and said technicians were mobilised immediately to restore power flow. Although most areas saw electricity return relatively quickly, isolated pockets continued to experience delays in restoration.
Beyond residential buildings, key city services were temporarily impacted.
Traffic signals at several intersections blinked out, creating brief congestion at morning peak times.
Street lighting also went off, affecting visibility for pedestrians on early commutes.
Local authorities urged drivers to proceed cautiously at non-functioning junctions as emergency teams monitored the situation.
The outage also caused interruptions on parts of the metro and suburban railway network.
Some services were halted or delayed as stations and signalling systems momentarily lost power.
Transport operators reported that normal operations resumed gradually as electricity was restored, though commuters experienced delays during the busiest travel window of the morning. Social media users shared images of darkened streets and stations, expressing surprise at the scale of the blackout.
City officials reassured residents that the situation was under control and that the incident posed no broader risk to the regional power network. The technical teams at RTE and Enedis continued checks throughout the morning to prevent additional disruptions.
Power outages of this scale are relatively rare in central Paris, where the grid is reinforced to handle dense urban demand. However, Thursday’s incident highlighted the challenges posed by the ageing infrastructure and the high dependence on uninterrupted power for mobility and public safety.
By mid-morning, authorities reported that nearly all affected customers had regained electricity. A full assessment of the fault is expected in the coming days as engineers review the malfunction at the Issy-les-Moulineaux substation.
For many residents, the blackout served as a reminder of the fragility of urban infrastructure. Though brief, the disruption underscored the ripple effects a few minutes without power can cause in a city reliant on electrified services.
Despite the inconvenience, emergency responses were swift, and no injuries or serious incidents were reported. Officials emphasised that rapid restoration efforts helped limit the damage and ensure the city returned to normal operations soon after the outage.