Metallic Balloons That Contact Electric Lines Often Cause Power
Outages and Injuries
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Flowers. Chocolates. Teddy Bears. Candle-lit dinners with your
sweetheart. With Valentine’s day just around the corner, Pacific Gas and
Electric Company (PG&E) encourages its customers to look for the perfect
way to tell that special someone that they really light up their lives
while staying safe. Of course, balloons are one of the best ways to add
a touch of fun and whimsy to show your valentine just how much you
really care.
While there’s no denying that love will be in the air this February
14th, there’s one thing that shouldn’t be: unweighted balloons. If
balloons—particularly metallic ones—come into contact with overhead
power lines, they can disrupt electric service and cause significant
property damage and potentially result in serious injuries. That’s why
PG&E is urging customers to use weights to secure all helium balloons to
prevent them from floating away.
Last year, more than 300 outages occurred because unsecured metallic
balloons floated into PG&E power lines, ultimately affecting electric
service to more than 155,000 homes and businesses throughout Northern
and Central California. Sometimes these outages interrupt electric
service to important facilities such as hospitals, schools and traffic
lights. But don’t take our word for it, you can see for yourself by
checking out this video that shows how balloons can damage power lines
by checking out the following link: PG&E
Mylar Balloon Safety
"Everybody loves a candlelit dinner, but nothing kills the mood quite
like a power outage. That’s why it’s important to make sure that we
safely secure metallic balloons to prevent them from contact with
energized wires and posing a serious safety risk,” said Jason Regan,
PG&E's director of Emergency Management and Response.
To help ensure that the only sparks flying this Valentine's Day are the
romantic kind, PG&E reminds customers to follow these important balloon
safety tips:
-
"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.
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When possible, keep metallic balloons indoors. For everyone's safety,
never permit metallic balloons to be released outside.
-
Do not bundle metallic balloons together.
-
Never attempt to retrieve any type of balloon, kite or toy that
becomes caught in a power line. Leave it alone, and immediately 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 far 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 one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco,
with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the
nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and
Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/
and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
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Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company