LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — When the ability went out on Sunday, March 2, for greater than 10,000 prospects in downtown Las Vegas, the lights had been out for slightly over an hour.
The wrongdoer? A balloon, in line with an NV Vitality official who spoke on the Nevada Legislature Monday.
Energy outage reported in Downtown Las Vegas on March 2, 2025
“Just in the past five years alone, balloon-related incidents have caused over 400 outages impacting hundreds of thousands of customers,” Anthony Ruiz, NV Vitality’s authorities relations supervisor, informed lawmakers throughout a listening to on Meeting Invoice 194 (AB194). These outages affected about 600,000 individuals, he stated.
Ruiz stated there are additionally issues related to common balloons, usually overshadowed by dangers from Mylar balloons. He stated common balloons can soften into the ability strains, requiring harmful cleanup by a line employee.
A ban on balloon releases goals at what Democratic Assem. Sandra Jauregui described as a security hazard with a large impression.
“When released, balloons frequently end up as litter in waterways or natural habitats where they harm wildlife and contribute to microplastic pollution. Mylar balloons, in particular, are nonbiodegradable and can cause power outages or fires when they come into contact with power lines,” Jauregui stated.
Even with all of the publicity about Mylar balloons, lots of people are unaware of the dangers of energy strains arcing when foil balloons come into contact.
Republican State Sen. Lisa Krasner requested, “If a child on their birthday intentionally releases one balloon to watch it fly up into the air, are they now in violation of this law?”
Jauregui stated that is not the intent of the laws, which has been authorised within the Meeting and was receiving a listening to within the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.
“The goal of the bill isn’t to like find people and fine them. It’s more about prevention,” Jauregui stated. “It’s about getting the education out there.”
AB194 comprises exemptions for hot-air balloons, climate balloons and different scientific analysis balloons, and indoor balloon releases.
The invoice builds on AB321, which was signed into legislation in 2023. That legislation phases in restrictions on foil balloons starting in 2027 and takes full impact in 2030.
AB321 carries fines of $50 per balloon, with a most $2,500 advantageous. This 12 months’s ban on balloon releases carries a $250 advantageous. However that is probably not what lawmakers are targeted on, Jauregui stated.
“Ultimately, we don’t enforce the laws. It would be up to the local law enforcement agency,” she stated.
