SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – The COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in how we celebrate milestones such as graduations and birthdays, but if you’re planning on having Mylar balloons as part of your drive-by or other type of celebration, San Diego Gas & Electric wants to remind you to keep them away from power lines.
SDG&E officials said they have reported seven Mylar balloon-related electrical outages in the past week alone. The outages led to service disruptions for nearly 4,000 customers, the utility said.
In the last five years, SDG&E said Mylar balloons have caused over 500 power outages in the region.
To prevent any future Mylar balloon-related issues, SDG&E advises:
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 your Mylar balloons indoors. If your festivities take you outdoors, do your best to keep your balloons securely fastened. California State Law mandates that all balloon bouquets sold must have a weight attached. If you notice a Mylar balloon entangled in an overhead power line, call 911 or SDG&E at 800-411-7343. Do not try to remove it yourself.
