Don’t spend Valentine’s Day in the dark – Keep Mylar balloons away from power lines

This Valentine’s Day, PNM is reminding its customers to use caution if they plan to celebrate their love with Mylar balloons. This celebration can quickly become a serious hazard if they come into contact with power lines and cause outages that could potentially impact thousands of customers.

Mylar balloons are made of metallic materials that conduct electricity. If they touch power lines, they cannot only cause power outages, but can also damage electrical equipment and even pose a safety risk.

In 2023, PNM crews responded to 28 power outages caused by Mylar balloons, compared to 18 caused by Mylar balloons in 2022.

“We want everyone to have a safe and happy Valentine’s Day,” said Chad Krukowski, director of safety for PNM. “That’s why we’re providing these safety tips, as we don’t want the spark in anyone’s romance to come from Mylar balloons getting caught in our power lines.”

To celebrate safely with Mylar balloons, PNM provides the following safety tips:

â Securely tie balloons: Always securely tie Mylar balloons to a weight heavy enough to prevent them from floating away.

â Indoor use only: Keep Mylar balloons indoors or securely anchored if used outdoors to prevent them from drifting into power lines.

â Proper disposal: After Valentine’s Day is over, properly deflate and dispose of Mylar balloons in the trash.