Nearly 2,200 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers in the Sawtelle and Westwood areas were without power for several hours Saturday after metallic balloons floated into power lines, causing them to short circuit.
The LADWP reported at 1:11 p.m. Saturday that crews were responding to a power outage in the West Los Angeles area caused by metallic balloons, and that service would be restored as quickly and safely as possible.
“When metallic balloons, often called `mylar’ balloons, float into power lines, they can cause power outages,” the LADWP explained. “Their conductive material creates a short circuit when touching the energized line, disrupting the electrical flow.”
The utility restored power to 537 Westwood customers by 6:15 p.m., according to the map on its website. The 1639 customers in the Sawtelle neighborhood saw power restored by 6:45 p.m., leaving just 65 Westwood customers still without power.
The agency posted on X at 7:12 p.m. that power was restored to all West L.A.-area customers affected by the outage.