Some things pop up at every graduation. Like the endless playing of the “Pomp and Circumstance” march. Or the ear-splitting blasts of air horns. Or the reading of quote after quote from “Oh, The Places, You’ll Go.”

Or, of course, those shiny, colorful Mylar balloons. They’re pretty. They’re fun. And they can spell trouble for your neighborhood’s power if someone lets go of one.

Sounds silly? We’ve actually seen it here before. In the spring of 2018, a number of LPC customers lost power for about 30 minutes because a child’s balloon got caught in the power lines. You see, that bright metallic surface that looks so neat is also a pretty good electrical conductor. So when one of those balloons floats up, up and into our lines, it can short out a transformer, melt a power line, cause a surge, start a fire, kick off a widespread power outage, or otherwise turn a great day into something that’s no fun for anyone.  (If you want to see some examples, check out these demonstrations from an Arizona utility.) 

These kind of outages happen all over the country every year, especially during graduation season. Fortunately, they’re really easy to avoid. For example:

• The obvious tip – don’t let go of Mylar balloons when you’re outdoors!
• Attach a weight to Mylar balloons or tie them down so that they’re not going anywhere.
• Don’t use metallic ribbons with them – if the balloon gets away, that’s one more potential electrical short waiting to happen.
• When you’re done with the fun, deflate the balloon as part of your cleanup.

Also, remember: if you see anything caught in the power lines – whether it’s a balloon, a drone, a kite, or anything else – stay well away and give us a call at 303-651-8386. We’ll take care of it so you can stay safe.

Meanwhile, congratulations to all our new graduates! We wish you all the best as you move onward and upward.

May your prospects soar – and your balloons stay safely at ground level.