PG&E: Please Be Careful with Metallic Balloons 02-09-01 15:55 DC

Pacific Gas and Electric is asking its customers to be careful with metallic balloons this Valentine's Day.

According to the utility, 453 power outages in Northern and Central California, last year were caused by metallic balloons, a 30% increase from 2019.

On the Central Coast, the top 5 cities for outages caused by the balloons were:

• Salinas- 25 outages, 116,325 customers affected
• Santa Maria- 12 outages, 33,078 customers affected
• Monterey- 7 outages, 188,048 customers affected
• Greenfield- 5 outages, 42,394 customers affected
• Watsonville- 5 outages, 5,307 customers affected

PG&E said sometimes the outages interrupt electric service to facilities such as hospitals, schools and traffic lights.

To stay safe, PG&E suggests:

• Making sure balloons are securely tied to a weight that will prevent them from floating away.
• Avoiding celebrating with metallic balloons near overhead power lines.
• Not retrieving items caught in a power line.
• Avoiding power lines on the ground or dangling in the air.

The outages happen when a metallic balloon gets loose. The coating on the balloons conducts electricity, and the utility said that can pose a risk. PG&E said it believes there was an increase in outages attributed to them due to drive-by celebrations and outdoor decorations during the pandemic.

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