PG&E reminds customers to not let metallic balloons fly this Valentine’s Day
CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION) -- PG&E is letting customers be aware when buying metallic balloons this Valentine's Day due to their potential to cause power outages.
Around Valentine's Day, an uptick is seen as metallic balloons fly up in the air and drift into power lines.
“On Valentine’s Day, nothing puts a damper on a romantic evening faster than a widespread power outage," PG&E’s Vice President of Electric Distribution Operations Ron Richardson says.
In 2024 alone, 31 outages were caused by the balloon setting adrift into power lines. In total, 7,428 customers were affected last year.
Of those 31 outages, six were in Santa Cruz affecting 109 customers.
Salinas saw the highest number of outages with 10 outages reported as being caused by the balloons.
"If they contact our overhead lines they can disrupt electric service to an entire neighborhood, cause significant property damage and potentially result in serious injuries," Richardson said.
PG&E is asking those who purchase metallic balloons to tie them onto a weight and to puncture the balloons after their use.
