Feb 10, 2025   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

PG&E To Customers: On Valentine's Day, Let Hearts Soar, Not Metallic Balloons

Roses are Red, Chocolate is Sweet.
Don't Let Wayward Balloons Cause an Outage on Your Street

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More metallic balloons are sold for Valentine's Day than any other holiday and, not surprisingly, it's also around this time of year that Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) sees an uptick in outages caused by metallic balloons drifting into overhead power lines. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, PG&E reminds its customers to make sure metallic balloons are always tied to a weight - as required by California law - and to never release them outdoors.

In 2024, metallic balloons caused 369 power outages across PG&E's service area in Northern and Central California, disrupting electric service to more than 230,000 homes and businesses. Unlike latex helium balloons, metallic balloons can stay inflated and floating for two to three weeks - posing a hazard to power lines and equipment even days after being released outside.

"On Valentine's Day, nothing puts a damper on a romantic evening faster than a widespread power outage. If your February 14 plans include metallic balloons, please keep them tied down with a weight. 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," said Ron Richardson, PG&E's Vice President of Electric Distribution Operations.

Here's an example of what can happen when metallic balloons hit utility power lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqFm52C1n5Q

In order to significantly reduce the number of balloon-caused outages and to help ensure that everyone can safely enjoy their Valentine's Day, PG&E reminds customers to follow these important safety tips for metallic balloons:

    --  "Look Up and Live!" - Use caution and avoid celebrating with metallic
        balloons near overhead electric lines.
    --  Make sure helium-filled metallic balloons are securely tied to a weight
        that is heavy enough to prevent them from floating away. Never remove
        the weight.
    --  When done with balloons, do not release them. Puncture them several
        times or cut the knot and throw them in the garbage to prevent them from
        floating away.
    --  Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon -- or any foreign object -- tangled
        in power lines or inside a substation. There can be risk of
        electrocution. Instead, leave it alone and 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 dangling
        in the air. Always assume downed electric lines are energized and
        extremely dangerous. Stay away, keep others away and immediately call
        911 to alert the police and fire departments.

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company