​While the majority of schools and universities have been practicing distance learning for the past year, graduation season is now in full effect! Of course, in true San Diego style, graduates will don their caps, gowns and (in many cases) colorful leis. When hosting your follow-up fiesta, however, it is important to be mindful of the impact your decorations can have -- metallic foil balloons in particular. 

The metallic coating that gives them their bright, festive color is a conductor for electricity and what causes an electric outage when helium-filled metallic balloons come in contact with power lines. 

It’s around this time every year the electric company notices a surge in metallic balloon incidents, which is why SDG&E is asking that everyone do their part to help prevent metallic balloon related outages by following a few easy tips: 

• Keep your metallic balloons indoors. 
• If your graduation festivities take you outdoors, keep your balloons securely fastened or attached to a weight.
• When the fun is done, dispose of a metallic balloon by fully deflating it so that it doesn’t get loose and float away. Partially inflated metallic balloons can easily become airborne. 
• If you notice a metallic balloon, or any object, entangled in an overhead power line, please call 9-1-1 or SDG&E at 800-411-7343. Do not try to remove it yourself. 

Over the past five years, metallic balloons have been identified as the cause of more than 500 power outages to our region’s electrical system.  
 
For more information, please call 1-800-411-7343.

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