Balloons Cause Power Outages

Hawaiian Electric urges the public to keep safety tips in mind, as the metallic balloons get entangled in power lines.

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First it was scary clowns. Now we have to worry about balloons.

Metallic balloons, to be specific.

HECO: Don't let this happen.
HECO: Don’t let this happen. HECO

Hawaiian Electric issued a warning Tuesday, saying that the number of power outages caused by metallic balloons entangled in power lines “continues to rise.”

Short circuits, it seems, can knock out power to an entire neighborhood.

There were 21 such outages so far this year on Oahu. Since 2008, there has been an average of 17 metallic balloon outages each year, the peak coming in 2013.

The latest incident was on Oct. 23, when a balloon got entangled in power lines on Waialae Avenue near St. Louis Drive-In.

HECO says more than 1,200 customers in the area lost power.

So, the company is urging the public to “hang onto and secure their celebratory balloon.”

Here’s a few tips:

  • make sure the balloon’s string or ribbon is securely tied to it;
  • add a weight to the end of the string or ribbon;
  • never release balloons into the sky; and
  • deflate balloons after the celebration.

“Anyone spotting a metallic balloon in a power line should not try to free it,” warns HECO.

Instead, call the utility’s trouble line at 1 (855) 304-1212.

HECO had no advice on what to do about scary clowns.

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