Mylar Balloons Cause Power Outages for 14,000 Wisconsin Customers in 2024

A power outage on July 13 in Milwaukee's Bay View and surrounding neighborhoods left about 2,000 customers without electricity for several hours, caused by Mylar balloons coming into contact with power lines. These metallic balloons create short circuits and can burn power lines until they fall, resulting in significant outages and safety hazards. Businesses like Community Bark Dog Wash lost hundreds of dollars in revenue due to the outage, with many forced to close temporarily. We Energies reports that since 2020, Mylar balloons have caused over 120,000 power outages, affecting thousands of customers each year. In response, State Senator Tim Carpenter has proposed Senate Bill 360 to prohibit the release of 10 or more Mylar balloons and impose a $500 fine for violations, aiming to reduce environmental damage and strain on the power grid. We Energies advises securing balloons to weights and keeping them away from power lines to prevent such incidents.