Power Outages Caused by Lost Balloons Can Ruin Graduation Ceremony
Corporate News
OAKLAND, California — It’s graduation season in California and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has an important reminder for the public about the safety risks associated with helium-filled metallic balloons. If your graduation celebration includes balloons, make sure they are weighted. Otherwise, they can become loose and come into contact with overhead power lines, posing a public safety risk.
In the first four months of 2024, there have been nearly 112 power outages in the PG&E service area alone due to metal balloons hitting power lines, affecting service to more than 47,000 customers. This represents a 30 percent increase over the same period last year.
“Metallic balloons have a silver coating that is a conductor of electricity. If balloons escape and come into contact with power lines, they can short-circuit transformers, cause blackouts, and melt power lines, creating risks to public safety. We call on everyone to celebrate responsibly and secure the metal balloons with a weight,” said Peter Kenny, Senior Vice President of Electrical Operations for PG&E.
A few years ago, more than 6,000 San Francisco customers were left without power after metallic balloons came loose during a graduation ceremony and came into contact with overhead power lines. During graduation season, PG&E tends to see an increase in outages caused by balloons.
Here is a sobering example of what can happen when metallic balloons become loose and collide with utility power lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jzefJfBbNA
In order to significantly reduce the number of outages caused by balloons and ensure that everyone can safely enjoy Father’s Day celebrations, PG&E reminds customers to follow these important safety tips for metallic balloons:
– “Look up and stay safe!” Be careful and avoid celebrating with metallic balloons near overhead power lines.
– Make sure helium-inflated metallic balloons have a heavy enough weight attached to them to prevent them from floating away. Never take the weight off them.
– When possible, keep metallic balloons indoors. Never allow metallic balloons to be released into open spaces, for everyone’s safety.
– Do not tie metallic balloons together.
– Never attempt to recover any type of balloon, kite, drone or toy that becomes caught in a power line. Leave it there and immediately call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report the problem.
– Never go near a power line that has fallen to the ground or is hanging in the air. Always assume that downed power lines are energized and extremely dangerous. Keep your distance, keep others away, and immediately call 911 to alert the police and fire departments. Other tips can be found at pge.com/beprepared
– Visit our Safety Action Center for balloon safety graphics and more safety tips: https://www.safetyactioncenter.pge.com/articles/44-celebrate-safely
