Utility companies are asking people to be careful with metalized plastic balloons—often called Mylar balloons. Ameren Illinois spokesman Brian Bretsch says tie them down so they don’t get away. If they do, they could end up in a power line or an electric company substation where they cause power outages.
The metal is hard to clean up. The electrical surge heats it enough to melt it, so it drips or splatters on everything around it. And it still conducts electricity. That creates a risk of more short circuits when the power company turns the switches to power up again.
Bretsch says there were three major power outages in Illinois last year because of balloons. One affected the University of Illinois for three hours.
While the balloons are popularly called Mylar balloons, some are sold under other brand names. Whatever the brand name, the metal coating conducts electricity. It’s not enough to buy a different brand and assume it’s safe. If it has a metal coating, it needs to be tied down well enough that it won’t blow away.
Bretsch says Ameren isn’t asking anyone to stop celebrating graduations, weddings, etc. But keeping the balloons tied down would go a long way to preventing electrical outages.
Ameren Illinois photo of line workers removing electrically conductive balloons from power lines.