With Valentine’s Day this weekend, helium-filled Mylar balloons will once again be very popular. But Puget Sound Energy urges customers to be careful not to let those balloons loose; if they get airborne, they can create some big problems.

If just one balloon gets tangled in power lines or a substation, the metallic compound in the balloon can trigger a surge of electricity and cause equipment to short circuit. That can lead to power outages, fires and possible injuries in what becomes a treacherous situation.

A Reminder: Safety First

• Keep Mylar balloons tethered at all times and attached to a weight to prevent them from floating away;

• Keep metallic balloons inside; never intentionally release them outside;

• Never try to remove any type of balloon, kite or toy that becomes caught in an overhead power line. Call PSE immediately at 1-888-225-5773 to let us know there’s a problem;

• Don’t bundle metallic balloons together; they can become more difficult to handle.

Mylar balloons that drift into PSE power lines create outages every year. In extreme circumstances, the metallic balloons have even been known to cause high-voltage electric wires to fall to the ground or dangle in the air. If that ever happens, everyone should stay far away and always assume any power line is energized and extremely dangerous.

PSE wants everyone to share the love this weekend. But please keep those pretty Mylar balloons grounded.