Metallic balloons can lead to power outages if not disposed of properly

BALTIMORE (Feb. 13, 2018) – While that special someone may catch your eye this Valentine's Day, don't lose sight of foil-coated balloons that can lead to outages when they come into contact with power lines. Untethered balloons cause thousands of unnecessary electric service interruptions each year for BGE customers. These balloons also have been known to float for days and can end up having a negative impact on the environment.

When foil-coated balloons contact a power line or other electric equipment, their metallic properties can cause a surge of electricity that can cause the equipment to short-circuit. These types of outages can be prevented.

BGE encourages customers to help reduce foil balloon-related power outages and ensure safety by keeping the following tips in mind:

• Keep balloons tethered at all times and attached to weights.
• Properly dispose of Mylar balloons by puncturing the balloon to release helium that otherwise could cause the balloon to float away.
• NEVER touch a power line. Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon or toy that is entangled in an overhead power line. For assistance, call BGE at 1-800-685-0123.
• Always assume power lines are live and keep yourself, your belongings and anything you are carrying at least 10 feet away from power lines.
   
  BGE customers can learn about more safety tips for the season by visiting bge.com.
  
  
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  BGE, founded in 1816 as the nation's first gas utility and headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility. The company's approximately 3,200 employees are committed to safe and reliable power delivery to more than 1.25 million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. J.D. Power's 2017 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study ^SM ranked BGE highest in customer satisfaction with business electric service in the east among large utilities. The company also has an estimated annual economic impact of $5 billion of output in its service area, supporting more than 9,500 local jobs and producing $923 million in labor income. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube  and Flickr.