Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is reminding customers on May 14 that helium-filled metallic balloons should be secured with a weight to prevent them from causing power outages and safety hazards. The company says unsecured balloons can drift into overhead power lines, disrupt electricity service, and create dangerous situations.
This reminder comes as graduation celebrations take place across California, a time when the use of decorative balloons increases. PG&E highlights that balloon-related outages are more common during this season, which can impact not only homes and businesses but also critical services such as hospitals, schools, and traffic signals.
In the first five months of 2026 alone, more than 100 power outages in PG&E’s service area were caused by metallic balloons coming into contact with electric lines. These incidents interrupted service for over 46,000 customers. The company also points out that just two weeks ago in Georgia, a metallic balloon sparked a major wildfire after drifting into an overhead powerline.
“Graduation season should be about celebrating students and their accomplishments, not dealing with avoidable outages,” said Ron Richardson, PG&E Vice President of Electric Distribution Operations. “A metallic balloon released outdoors can quickly come into contact with overhead electric lines and knock out power for an entire neighborhood. We encourage everyone to celebrate safely by keeping metallic balloons secured with a weight.”
Metallic balloons are coated with material that conducts electricity; if they escape outdoors and touch electric equipment or wires they can short transformers or cause widespread damage leading to outages. To reduce these risks during outdoor festivities like graduations, PG&E urges customers to follow recommended safety tips when handling such decorations.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company serves more than 16 million people across Northern and Central California.
