Every year, thousands of our customers lose power in balloon-related outages.
Since 2020, Mylar balloons have caused over 120,000 outages. So far, this year alone, nearly 14,000 customers lost power for approximately 153,000 minutes from Mylar balloons.
Mylar balloons that come into contact with power lines act as a conductor, creating a short circuit. Not only can balloons knock out power, the short circuit from the balloon also can cause power lines to fall to the ground, creating a dangerous situation.
Follow these tips when handling balloons:
• Never release balloons outside.
• Make sure balloons are tied securely to a weight.
• Keep balloons away from power lines.
• Don’t touch balloons entangled in wires.
If you spot a balloon stuck in our equipment, give us a call at 800-662-4797.