How much damage can that cute, foil balloon cause? More than you would think.

Foil coating found on those shiny balloons you see for a variety of holiday celebrations can cause preventable power outages and possible injury. When these balloons meet power lines or electrical equipment, their metallic properties can cause a surge of electricity that disrupts power and damages equipment. In fact, untethered balloons cause hundreds of unnecessary service interruptions for our customers each year.

If your holiday celebration involves a shiny foil balloon, or two, here are some tips to follow:

• Always keep balloons tethered and attached to weights.
• Properly dispose of foil-coated balloons by puncturing them to release helium that otherwise could cause them to float away.
• If your grip does happen to slip, NEVER touch a power line or attempt to retrieve a balloon that is entangled in an overhead power line. For assistance, call us at 1-800-833-7476.
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So, keep a tight grip on that shiny balloon. Take it from us, your date won’t be impressed if you cause a power outage in their neighborhood.