More than 8,700 NV Energy customers in Henderson suddenly found themselves in the dark Saturday night after the utility said a mylar balloon struck equipment, cutting electricity to homes and a shopping center along the Water Street corridor. The company logged the outage at 8:02 p.m., dispatching crews to restore service while merchants and residents waited for word on when the lights would come back on. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and officials had not yet released full details on exactly how the balloon came into contact with the system.
As reported by FOX5, the outage affected more than 8,700 customers in the area near Water Street, Lake Mead Parkway and Boulder Highway. The station also pointed viewers to a link for the NV Energy power outage map, where customers could check restoration estimates and live status updates.
How a foil balloon can stop a neighborhood
Utility crews say mylar, or foil, balloons carry a metallic coating that can act as a conductor, creating an electrical path that shorts lines or damages transformers when the balloon contacts energized equipment. NV Energy has demonstrated the hazard during past outages and has urged people to puncture and properly dispose of foil balloons instead of releasing them, KTNV reported.
Local rules and safety reminders
Las Vegas recently moved to ban intentional outdoor releases of helium-filled balloons after repeated incidents were blamed for power disruptions, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Utilities advise keeping balloons securely tethered, puncturing them before disposal and never trying to retrieve anything from power lines. Instead, customers are told to report sparking or downed wires to emergency services and the utility.
Residents still without power were urged to monitor NV Energy’s outage map for restoration times and to treat any downed or sparking lines as dangerous, calling 911 if there is an immediate threat. FOX5 reported that it had reached out to NV Energy for additional comment as crews continued repairs overnight.
