Metallic balloons triggered a widespread power outage in the San Leandro area, leaving more than 3,000 customers without power Saturday evening as the temperature dipped into the mid-40s.
The outage began at 5:20 p.m., initially plunging more than 5,300 customers into darkness, said Edgar Hopida, a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. spokesperson. By 7:27 p.m., staff restored power to nearly 1,900 customers, leaving about 3,500 still without power. PG&E estimated restoration time would be 4 a.m. Sunday.
Metallic balloons, also known as mylar balloons, have a silvery coating that conducts electricity, which can short transformers and melt electric wires when they come into contact with utility equipment, PG&E spokesperson Jennifer Robinson previously told the Chronicle…