Today, nearly 1,500 residents and businesses in North Vista lost power, and the power outage was entirely preventable. It was caused by untethered Mylar balloons getting tangled up in our overhead power lines.

The metallic coating—or Mylar—on the balloons conducts electricity, so when it meets a power line, it can not only cause an outage in your neighborhood, but can even spark an electrical fire.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increased number of Mylar balloon-related outages. In 2017 (the latest year for which we have statistics compiled), there were 124 reported outages caused by Mylar balloon contacts.

Power outages pose a significant inconvenience for everyone. You can help us maintain reliable electric service and protect the safety of our community and our employees by following these tips:

• Be sure to keep Mylar balloons indoors.
• If you see a Mylar balloon at an outdoor gathering, make sure that it is securely tied down or attached to a weight.
• When disposing of a Mylar balloon, puncture it in several places. Partially-inflated Mylar balloons can easily become airborne.
• If a Mylar balloon, kite or any object becomes entangled in an overhead power line, call 9-1-1 or SDG&E at 800-411-7343. Do not try to remove it yourself.