Valentine’s Day celebrations often involve gifts such as flowers and balloons, but Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is warning customers about the risks associated with metallic balloons. The company reports that power outages tend to increase around Valentine’s Day due to these balloons coming into contact with power lines.
According to PG&E, metallic balloons are highly conductive and can cause immediate outages, damage electrical equipment, and create hazardous situations for both the public and first responders. Unlike latex balloons, metallic ones can remain airborne for weeks, raising the likelihood of them striking overhead power lines well after the holiday.
In 2025, nearly 350 outages in Northern and Central California were attributed to metallic balloons within PG&E’s service area. These incidents affected approximately 165,000 customers and disrupted essential services including homes, businesses, traffic signals, schools, and hospitals. PG&E emphasizes that such outages are preventable.
“One rogue metallic balloon can darken an entire neighborhood in seconds. While some might say a Valentine’s Day power outage adds extra romance to the evening, most find it frustrating and inconvenient. This holiday, customers can help keep the lights on by securing metallic balloons with a weight and never releasing them outdoors,” said Ron Richardson, PG&E Vice President of Electric Distribution Operations.
California law requires all metallic balloons to be secured with a weight. PG&E urges people celebrating Valentine’s Day to follow this rule closely since balloon use is especially high during this period.
PG&E also shared an example video demonstrating what happens when metallic balloons hit utility lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqFm52C1n5Q
Pacific Gas and Electric Company serves more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. More information about their operations is available at pge.com or pge.com/news.
For further details or multimedia content related to this announcement: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-valentines-day-keep-the-love-flowing–not-the-outages-says-pge-302682809.html
