Keep the party going and avoid releasing Mylar balloons outdoors

Ameren Missouri warns customers that releasing metallic ballons can cause power outages

With college and high school graduations right around the corner, Ameren Missouri is urging customers to be cautious and careful when celebrating with Mylar balloons. While festive and fun, Mylar balloons can cause power outages and safety issues when they encounter power lines and other electrical equipment. These metallic balloons conduct electricity, leading to surges and shorts that can disrupt power, start fires and damage the electric grid.

Last year alone, there were hundreds of balloon-related outages nationwide. Ameren has responded to more than 170 balloon-related outages since 2021, with an average duration of 111 minutes, impacting over 14,000 customers.

Ameren Missouri reminds customers to keep balloons tethered and weighted during use to prevent them from escaping and causing issues with power lines and other equipment.

“Mylar balloons may look fun and innocent, but when released near power lines, they cause major issues. They pose significant safety risks and can result in complex cleanup tasks before service can be restored,” said Ben Lynch, director of distribution operations for Ameren Missouri. “A little extra precaution can truly help us keep the lights on.”

If you see a Mylar balloon entangled in electric infrastructure, always assume the line is live and do not attempt to remove it yourself. Instead, call Ameren Missouri at 1-800-552-7583, and a crew will be dispatched to safely handle the situation.