Pop goes the power
Mid-day power outage on Main and Front streets caused by party balloons
WOONSOCKET – Most power outages are caused by storms, car crashes or transformer fires. The power outage that kept most of Front Street and Main Street in the dark for 49 minutes on Friday afternoon was caused by – of all things – helium-filled party balloons.
The wayward metallic balloons got entangled in power lines on Front Street, causing a short-circuit that left businesses and hundreds of residents from Heritage Place on Front Street to City Hall on Main Street without power on Good Friday.
The affected area included Front, Bernon, South Main and Main Streets.
“Actually, balloon-related outages are more common than you think,” said David Graves, a spokesman for National Grid. “Usually it happens when there’s some type of street festival or parade.”
Graves said Woonsocket lost power just after 1 p.m. and that it was restored at 1:49 p.m.
According to Graves, when drifting helium-filled foil-coated balloons contact a power line or other electric equipment, their metallic properties can cause a surge of electricity that can impede
equipment. In fact, metallic balloons that get tangled in power lines can disrupt electric service to an entire neighborhood.
May and June are typically the busiest months for balloon-related outages, when graduation day ceremonies and parties, as well as Mother’s Day celebrations, take place.
The electric company encourages customers to help reduce foil balloon-related power outages and ensure safety by keeping the following tips in mind: • Keep balloons tethered at all times and attached to weights. • Properly dispose of foil balloons by puncturing the balloon to release helium that otherwise could cause the balloon to float away. • Never touch a power line. Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon, toy or kite that is entangled in an overhead power line. For assistance, call National Grid at 1-800465-1212.
• Always assume power lines are live and keep yourself, your belongings and anything you are carrying at least 10 feet away from power lines.