Let Sparks Fly With Your Valentine, Not Metallic Balloons: PG&E

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — PG&E is warning Sonoma County residents celebrating Valentine's Day this weekend to secure metallic balloons that have caused an increase in power outages recently when the balloons get loose and touch power lines.

Last year, there were five power outages related to metallic balloons in Sonoma County, impacting service to approximately 6,631 customers. Metallic balloons were the cause of 453 power outages across other parts of PG&E’s service territory, disrupting electric service to more than 250,000 homes and businesses—almost 30 percent more than in 2019, PG&E officials said.

San Jose had the most outages caused by the balloons out of any city in the Bay Area at 57 in 2020, with Oakland, San Francisco, Hayward and Richmond rounding out the top five.

The increase was the possible byproduct of many people using the balloons while doing drive-by celebrations or outdoor celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Over the past year, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of balloons floating into our power lines and causing outages, and we suspect that there could be a correlation to the pandemic and the advent of creative at-home celebrations," said Ken Wells, vice president of Electric Distribution for PG&E.

Because of the pandemic, only 21 percent of people celebrating Valentine’s Day this year are planning an evening out, the lowest in 17 years, according to a National Retail Federation survey.

"Metallic balloons are an easy way to make at-home celebrations more festive, but nothing puts a damper on a romantic evening faster than a widespread power outage you, your friends or your neighbors," Wells said. "Keep your holiday safe by ensuring metallic balloons are secured with a weight."

PG&E recommends that the metallic balloons be tied to a weight heavy enough to keep them from floating away, and to not bundle them together or hold celebrations near overhead electric lines.

Anyone who sees a balloon or something else caught in a power line should leave it alone and call PG&E at 800 743-5000.