(Mylar balloons cause power outages)....The Imperial Irrigation District says the problem is costly.

They are reminding the public once again. Do not release these balloons outdoors. 876 IID customers in Coachella Valley were without power for about 45 minutes after Mylar balloons came in contact with power lines. The IID says the metallic coating on Mylar balloons conducts electricity and can cause a short circuit or power surge when in contact with power lines. The District says this can lead to large scale power outages, melting of electrical wires, and fires, leading to possible injuries and property damage. In addition, outages caused by balloons can result in significant inconvenience for residents and businesses. The IID strongly suggests the balloons are never released outdoors, keep Mylar balloons away from power lines, use balloon weights, never use metallic ribbons with metallic balloons and always deflate metallic balloons and dispose of them properly when no longer in use.