As Valentine’s Day nears, FirstEnergy is urging customers to use caution with helium-filled foil balloons due to the risk they pose to electrical infrastructure. The metallic coating on these balloons can conduct electricity, and if released outdoors, may contact power lines or other equipment and cause outages.
February often sees an increase in outages linked to metallic balloons as they are commonly given as gifts alongside chocolates, flowers, and cards. In 2025, foil balloons caused 96 power outages across FirstEnergy’s service area. The breakdown by company includes: The Illuminating Company (9), Ohio Edison (16), Toledo Edison (7), Met-Ed (12), Penelec (9), Penn Power (4), West Penn Power (5), Mon Power (5), Potomac Edison (5) and JCP&L (24).
The number of balloon-related outages has declined from 132 in 2020 to 96 in 2025—a decrease of about 27%. FirstEnergy attributes this reduction to increased community outreach efforts.
Chad Stoneking, Director of Safety Operations at FirstEnergy, stated: “Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest balloon-buying days of the year, and while they add a lot of fun to the celebration, foil balloons can cause real problems if they get loose. We’ve seen fewer balloon-related outages thanks to community outreach, but this special day is a great reminder to keep balloons secured and dispose of them properly. A few steps can help keep your loved ones smiling and the lights on for everyone in our local communities.”
FirstEnergy recommends several safety measures:
– Keep metallic balloons away from overhead electric lines.
– Securely tie helium-filled metallic balloons to a weight heavy enough so they do not float away.
– Deflate and puncture used metallic balloons instead of releasing them into the sky.
– Do not attempt to retrieve objects caught in power lines; instead call FirstEnergy at 888-544-4877.
– Stay clear of downed or low-hanging power lines and report them immediately by calling 911.
A video about the hazards posed by foil balloons is available on FirstEnergy’s YouTube channel.
FirstEnergy provides electricity service for more than six million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York according to its official website. The company manages around 24,000 miles of transmission lines connecting Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions (source).
FirstEnergy emphasizes corporate responsibility through environmental initiatives and community engagement (source) and has been recognized for compliance leadership as well as military-friendly practices (source). The utility highlights integrity and reliability as core values supported by a diverse workforce focused on improving customer experience (source).
For more information about corporate responsibility initiatives or safety tips regarding electric service interruptions caused by metallic balloons, visit firstenergycorp.com.
