Love is in the air, but party balloons shouldn't be

Dimming the lights on Valentine's Day can set a romantic mood. A total power blackout caused by a party balloon – not so much.

We would like to provide these balloon safety tips:

Helium-filled metallic or Mylar balloons caused more than a dozen power outages affecting more than 18,000 of our customers in 2016. The metallic surface of the balloon can act as a conductor, creating a short circuit in a power line.

Balloons typically are found on power lines in residential areas. That’s cause for great concern because lines damaged by a short circuit from a balloon could fall across fences or in front of homes.

No matter the cause, downed power lines can be energized and dangerous. Always stay at least 25 feet away and tell others to do the same. Call us at 800-662-4797 to report a downed line.