VALENTINE BALLOONS: GREAT CONDUCTORS
Utility companies are bracing for Valentine’s Day, the biggest day of the year for helium-filled metallic balloon sales. The increasing menace of the highly conductive metallic balloons and streamers has caused about 500 outages to more than 400,000 customers in the Department of Water and Power’s service area in the city of Los Angeles over the last five years. Southern California Edison Co., which supplies power to most of Southern California, reported nearly 1,000 outages in the last five years. In 1990, Edison spent more than $550,000 on repairs caused when balloons became entangled in power lines.
The balloon industry reportedly grosses about $350 million annually on sales of metallic balloons, which are made principally of Mylar (aluminized polyester film). Although the balloons cause only about 2% of all outages--and about half of the balloon outages are attributed to clusters of balloons rather than single balloons--they are among the the most easily controlled, unlike lightning, windstorms and car crashes. A recently enacted state law has the following restrictions:
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Feb. 27, 1991 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday February 27, 1991 Home Edition Metro Part B Page 2 Column 5 Metro Desk 2 inches; 47 words Type of Material: Correction
Metallic balloons----Because of incorrect information supplied by the Department of Water and Power, The Times incorrectly described a state law on the handling of Mylar balloons. The law states that metallic balloons cannot be tied together unless each is tied individually to a weight. The penalty for breaking the law is a $100 fine.
* Each metallic balloon must be weighted (vendors usually use stuffed toys or ceramic mugs).
* No more than two metallic balloons may be tied together, unless tied to a common object, and no more than one may be attached to a bunch of latex balloons.
* Metallic strings cannot be used on Mylar balloons.
* Release of metallic balloons outdoors is prohibited.
* Penalties for breaking these rules, which are misdemeanors, are a maximum $1,000 fine and/or six months in jail.
Kites Can Be Dangerous, Too
The use of Mylar for kites was banned in September, 1979. Here are some safety hints:
* Fly kites in open areas away from power lines.
* Never use wire, tinsel or metal in kites.
* Never fly a kite with wet string, which acts as a good conductor of electricity back to its handler.
* Call the Department of Water and Power to report kites or Mylar balloons caught in wires. In the 213 area, call (800) 821-5278; in the 818 area, call (800) 821-5279.
SOURCE: Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison Co.
