West Los Angeles power outage caused by metallic balloons – NBC Los Angeles

Nearly 2,200 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers in the Sawtelle and Westwood areas in West Los Angeles were without power Saturday due to metallic balloons that floated into power lines. 

Utility crews were responding to the afternoon outages. The Sawtelle neighborhood was expected to have power restored by 5 p.m., the LADWP said on its website. Power was expected to return to Westwood later Saturday evening. 

Metallic, or mylar, balloons have a conductive material that causes a short circuit when they contact energized power lines. 

Click here for LADWP’s updated outage map.

LADWP crews are responding to a power outage in the West Los Angeles area caused by metallic balloons. Service will be restored as quickly and safely as possible.

— LADWP (@LADWP) January 4, 2025