Graduation celebrations give rise to Mylar balloon-related outages

SAN DIEGO – The coronavirus pandemic has transformed graduations into festive drive-by celebrations. Residents may have seen colorful car parades complete with signs, streamers and shiny Mylar balloons tied to vehicles. Unfortunately, the thing that makes Mylar balloons so shiny is also the thing that can cause an electric outage if the metallic coating contacts a power line.

As more people find creative ways to celebrate milestones in place of traditional events, San Diego Gas and Electric wants to encourage everyone to do their part to help prevent Mylar balloon-related outages.

Just over the past week alone, seven Mylar balloon related outages caused service disruptions for about 3,800 customers. Over the past five years, Mylar balloons have been identified as the cause of more than 500 power outages to the region’s electrical system.

It’s around this time every year that a surge in Mylar balloon incidences occur which is why SDG&E is asking everyone to help prevent them with a few easy-to-follow tips:

When the fun is done, show some love by deflating the Mylar balloon so that it doesn’t get loose and float away. Remember, partially inflated Mylar balloons can easily become airborne.

Whenever possible try to keep Mylar balloons indoors.

If the festivities head outdoors, try to keep the balloons securely fastened. California state law mandates that all balloon bouquets sold must have a weight attached.

If residents notice a Mylar balloon entangled in an overhead power line, call 911 or contact SDG&E at 800-411-7343. Do not try to remove it personally.

To learn more about power line safety, visit http://www.sdge.com/safety. 

Submitted by San Diego Gas and Electric.