Keep it down! Don't let that Mylar balloon float away
With graduation ceremonies and other festive occasions coming up, experts are asking the public to tie down and properly dispose of popular, colorful Mylar balloons — or better yet, find an alternative way to celebrate.
If they float away, the shiny balloons can cause large-scale power outages, melt electrical wires, spark fires and lead to possible injuries and property damage. Environmentalists don't like them either, because they aren't biodegradable and wildlife can choke on them or get entangled in them.
“Although they can be festive and fun, the metallic coating can conduct electricity, which can lead to a short circuit or power surge when coming in contact with electrical equipment,” explained Matt Smelser, Energy Department manager with southern California's Imperial Irrigation District. “We want to stress how important it is for these balloons not to float away. Help keep the party going by keeping all Mylar balloons secure and disposed of properly.”
IID said when customers buy one of the balloons, they can ask for a clip or a balloon weight.
Related: We Energies restored power to more than 4,200 people after outage caused by Mylar balloon
The impacts of the lighter-than-air balloons getting away are no laughing matter. Since 2022, there have been 56 power outages in IID's service area due to Mylar balloon contact, including one this week, said agency spokesman Robert Schettler. In once case in February 2022, the power was out for some customers for nearly six and a half hours. In April 2023, over 2,100 IID customers were out of power for more than half an hour.
California will phase out Mylar balloons by 2031 because their shiny shells cause blackouts and spark wildfires when they float into power lines. Several cities have also banned them because of wildlife injuries and deaths.
Power outages caused by the shiny floating balloons cost customers too, an IID news release said. Since 2022, it estimated costs at hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment damage, fuel costs, and hourly wages.
To reduce the risks, IID suggests the following tips:• Attach a weight to metallic balloons, or safely tie them down• Never release a Mylar balloon outdoors• Keep Mylar balloons away from power lines• Never use metallic ribbons with balloons• Always deflate metallic balloons and dispose of them properly
Safety first: If you see a metallic balloon that has come into contact with a power line, keep yourself and all other items and people at least 20 feet away and report it by calling IID at 1-800-303-7756 or Southern California Edison at 1-800-611-1911.
Janet Wilson is senior environment reporter for The Desert Sun and co-authors USA Today Climate Point. She can be reached at jwilson@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Keep it down! Don't let that Mylar balloon float away
