January 22, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Balloons and Power Outages

The dangers of metallic and latex balloons.

By Keldine Hull

From a first birthday to a 50th wedding anniversary, it’s hard to imagine any celebration without a colorful bouquet of balloons to add just the right touch of jubilance. While balloons seem virtually harmless, they can potentially wreak havoc on power lines causing outages for blocks on end. In May 2018, a runaway Mylar balloon struck a power pole resulting in a massive power outage in West Hollywood that affected 500 customers.

Southern California Edison (SCE) Spokesman Paul Netter explains what makes power lines and balloons a potentially harmful combination.

“When a metallic balloon floats into a power line, substation or other electrical equipment, it can cause a surge of electricity that short-circuits the equipment and lead to power outages. This surge of electricity caused by the Mylar contact can sometimes produce a loud bang, followed by a disintegrated balloon and damaged electrical equipment and lines, which can cause lines to sever and fall to the ground — thus creating a serious public safety issue as well as a power outage,” Netter said. 

Both metallic and latex balloons pose a potential threat for different reasons. Netter continues,

“We discourage the release of any balloons — metallic or latex — but the biggest issue is that the metallic coating on Mylar balloons conducts electricity in a way that latex doesn’t. Latex balloons and the strings tying them together can, however, cause an outage if a bunch of them wrap around two power lines pulling them together.”

According to Netter, SCE experienced 1,128 metallic-balloon-caused power outages last year, an average of three per day.

“We typically see a spike in the outages starting in February with Valentine’s Day that peaks with June’s graduations. Unfortunately, that peak last year produced an all-time, one-month high of 206 outages in June — an average of nearly seven a day for that month,” Netter said.

Existing law prohibits the sale or distribution of a balloon constructed of electrically conductive material and filled with helium without attaching a weighted object, the identity of the manufacturer, and a warning statement. Assembly Bill 2450, approved by former Governor Jerry Brown in September of last year, requires a person who manufactures a balloon that is constructed of electrically conductive material to permanently mark each balloon with the identity of the manufacturer and a printed statement that warns the consumer about the dangerous risk of fire if the balloon comes in contact with an electrical power line.

“Metallic balloon releases are a tremendous problem because they can and do cause hundreds of unnecessary power outages, which in turn cause major inconveniences like disruptions to traffic lights, elevators, businesses and more. And, unlike latex balloons, metallic balloons can stay inflated and floating for two to three weeks, posing a hazard to electrical equipment and safety weeks after being released outside. It is very important that we keep a handle on balloons by buying and keeping them attached to a weight and never releasing them outdoor,” Netter said.

If you see a balloon in power lines or electrical equipment, Netter advises to call 9-1-1 or SCE at 1-800-611-1911 and to stay away from any downed power lines.

“We also urge people to never release balloons when they’re finished with them. You should properly and safely dispose of balloons by puncturing them or cutting them at the knot so they can never float away.” Netter said, “Though the warnings may sound serious, safety is the top priority in our secure-is-best message regarding metallic balloons.”

Related Posts

Deadlines Extended for Personal and Business Taxes for Wildfire-Affected Residents of LA County, City

January 21, 2025

January 21, 2025

Mayor Bass announces New Deadline, State and Federal Extensions Even Longer Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that the deadline...

Free Bike Safety Workshop and Pizza Party Rolls Into Culver City on January 26

January 21, 2025

January 21, 2025

Learn Bike Safety Basics, Enjoy a Group Ride, and Celebrate With Pizza Culver City residents are invited to join Walk...

Palisades Fire Containment Reaches 63% as Repopulation Continues in Fire Zones

January 21, 2025

January 21, 2025

Select Areas Now Open to Residents Only as Evacuation Orders Are Eased The Palisades Fire has reached 23,713 acres with...

Widow of Fallen Culver City Police Department Officer Loses Home in Palisades Fire

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Melody Massey, Who Lost Her Husband in the Line of Duty, Faces New Hardship The Culver City Police Department has...

Governor Newsom Expands Tenant Protections for Firestorm Survivors

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Eviction Safeguards Offered for Tenants Sheltering Displaced Individuals Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order extending eviction protections to...

Crypto ‘Godfather’ and LASD Deputy Admit to Civil Rights Abuses in Federal Case

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

The Duo Face Decades in Prison for Conspiracy, Extortion, and Tax Fraud A cryptocurrency entrepreneur and a Los Angeles County...

Two Arrested By LASD for Impersonating Firefighters in Palisades Fire Zone

January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025

Suspects Detained After Attempting to Access Evacuation Areas Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau investigators announced the arrest of...

West Hollywood Art Collector Loses Iconic Warhol and Haring Pieces in Pacific Palisades Fire

January 19, 2025

January 19, 2025

Fire Destroys Over 200 Artworks Worth Millions, like Warhol’s ‘Myths’ and Haring’s ‘Totem’ West Hollywood art collector Ron Rivlin has...

Windblown Dust and Ash Advisory Issued for Los Angeles County Amid Strong Santa Ana Windstorm

January 19, 2025

January 19, 2025

Public Health Warns of Poor Air Quality, Health Risks as Winds Stir Pollutants From Burn Scars The Los Angeles County...

Red Flag Warning: Santa Ana Winds and Extreme Fire Danger Again Predicted This Week

January 19, 2025

January 19, 2025

Winds Up to 100 MPH Expected; Residents Urged to Prepare for Critical Fire Weather  The National Weather Service has issued...

LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund Launches with $12M to Support Artists Impacted by Wildfires

January 17, 2025

January 17, 2025

Getty Trust, Philanthropists Unite to Aid Artists, Arts Workers, Devastated by Los Angeles Fires. A coalition of arts organizations and...

LADWP Refutes Fire Hydrant Misinformation During Palisades Fire’s Unprecedented Demand for Water

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Utility Addresses Online Claims, Confirms Water Systems Remained Operational The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)  is seeking...

Culver City Postpones Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration To Next Month

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Event Will Honor Dr. King’s Legacy With Live Entertainment and Exhibits After a January postponement, the Dr. Martin Luther King...

Santa Monica Police Seek Inglewood-Based Suspect in Fatal Shooting

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Fabian Mendez, Considered Armed and Dangerous, Remains at Large The Santa Monica Police Department has an update on the case...

LA Restaurants Step Up: Feeding First Responders, Evacuees, and Communities in Need

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

From Free Meals To Fundraising Campaigns, Local Eateries Are Supporting Wildfire Relief  Many restaurants all over the city are doing...