{"id":430820,"date":"2021-02-08T11:44:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T16:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=430820"},"modified":"2021-02-08T11:44:00","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T16:44:00","slug":"firstenergy-reminds-customers-to-keep-the-energy-alive-this-valentines-day-by-properly-handling-foil-balloons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/firstenergy-reminds-customers-to-keep-the-energy-alive-this-valentines-day-by-properly-handling-foil-balloons\/","title":{"rendered":"FirstEnergy Reminds Customers to Keep the Energy Alive this Valentine’s Day by Properly Handling Foil Balloons"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Balloon-related power outages spiked across FirstEnergy’s footprint by 25% in 2020<\/h2>\n

PR Newswire<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n AKRON, Ohio<\/span>, Feb. 8, 2021<\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ —\u00a0FirstEnergy is reminding customers to fill the air with love, not helium-filled balloons this Valentine’s Day. While foil balloons have increased in popularity as party and drive-by celebration decorations, they continue to cause many power outages because their metallic coating conducts electricity and poses a risk to the electric system.<\/p>\n

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“Many people are surprised to learn that stray balloons can drift into high-voltage equipment and cause power outages\u00a0and other safety issues that impact our power system,” said Lisa Rouse<\/span>, director of outage management at FirstEnergy. “Although these balloons are fun and festive, it is important for people\u00a0<\/b>to handle them properly so they do not get released into the sky and impact electric service.”<\/p>\n

Last year, foil balloons were to blame for 132 power outages across FirstEnergy’s six-state service area\u2014a 25% increase in balloon-related outages when compared to 2019. Over the past three years, stray balloons have caused about 355 power outages in areas served by FirstEnergy’s electric companies.<\/p>\n

Due to the popularity of Valentine’s Day balloons, February typically marks the onset of a dramatic increase in\u00a0outages caused by adrift metallic balloons that peaks in June, when warm weather takes celebrations and picnics outdoors. The spike in balloon-related power outages last year is likely attributed to drive-by celebrations during the pandemic. In fact, many outages over the summer coincided with school graduation parades involving dozens of cars decorated with foil balloons and signs.<\/p>\n

To help ensure holidays and celebrations are enjoyed responsibly, customers are encouraged to keep the following balloon safety tips in mind:<\/p>\n