Ameren warns of power outage risks from Mylar balloons
ST. LOUIS, Mo., (KBSI) — As spring celebrations begin, Ameren is urging customers to keep Mylar balloons tethered and weighted to prevent power outages and safety issues.
The metallic balloons can conduct electricity, causing surges and shorts that disrupt power, start fires and damage the electric grid. Last year, hundreds of balloon-related outages were reported nationwide.
Ameren has responded to over 170 balloon-related outages since 2021, affecting more than 14,000 customers.
“We’re not trying to be the balloon police,” said Patrick Smith, senior vice president of operations and technical services for Ameren Illinois. “We want to remind everyone to properly secure and dispose of balloons to prevent issues with our power lines and substations.”
If a Mylar balloon becomes entangled in electric infrastructure, customers should not attempt to remove it themselves. Instead, they should call Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000 or Ameren Missouri at 1-800-552-7583.
