Don't Let Mylar Balloons Loose To Zap Power Lines: Pepco

MARYLAND — With graduations and other celebrations that bring families and friends together under way, Pepco reminds customers not to let foil balloons loose to damage the electric grid.

Foil balloons, also known as mylar balloons, cause unnecessary power outages every year, the utility said. These balloons have been known to float for days and can end up harming the environment.

Foil balloons have a metallic coated shell and when they touch an electric power line can cause significant damage, leading to power outages, according to Pepco. From 2018-2022, nearly 12,000 Pepco customers experienced an outage due to a foil balloon contacting electric infrastructure. That caused about 12,600 hours customers spent without power, or 64 minutes per customer over the same time.

Already in 2023, more than 1,000 Pepco customers have had a power outage caused by balloons.

Here are a few tips from Pepco to help reduce the potential for power outages as a result of foil balloons:

• Always keep balloons tethered or attached to weights.
• Properly dispose of foil balloons by puncturing a hole to release helium that otherwise could cause the balloon to float away.
• Consider an alternate way to celebrate special holidays and events that doesn’t involve balloons. Check out PreventBalloonLitter.org for ideas on how to celebrate, remember and honor the people who impact our lives without the use of balloons.

If a balloon is tangled in a power line, do not attempt to retrieve it. Always assume lines are energized and keep yourself, your belongings and anything you are touching at least 10 feet away at all times. For assistance, call Pepco at 877-737-2662.

Always be mindful of overhead wires when using a ladder and keep any equipment at least 10 feet away from power lines. Call 811 before starting any project that involves digging to learn the location of underground utility equipment. Planting trees and shrubs, and installing a fence or mailbox are all examples of digging projects where a call to 811 must be one of the first steps.

For more information on electric safety tips, visit pepco.com/Safety

To learn more about Pepco, visit The Source, Pepco’s online newsroom.

Find additional information by visiting pepco.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/PepcoConnect on Twitter at twitter.com/PepcoConnect. Pepco’s mobile app is available at pepco.com/MobileApp.