FirstEnergy warns metallic balloons spark outages around Valentine's Day; boosts dividend 4.5%

AKRON, Ohio, Feb 11 (Reuters) — FirstEnergy is stepping up a seasonal safety campaign, warning customers that helium-filled metallic (foil) balloons can spark outages and safety hazards if they contact overhead power lines around Valentine’s Day.

Balloon hazard warning and prevention

FirstEnergy says the metallic film on foil balloons creates a conductive path that can short equipment, trip transformers, spark fires and cause outages that affect thousands of customers. The company notes crews often must respond and replace damaged components, and that incidents typically rise in February when balloons accompany gifts such as chocolates and flowers. Last year foil balloons cause 96 outages across FirstEnergy’s service territory, down from 132 in 2020, a 27% decline that the company attributes to outreach and safer practices.

The utility provides a breakdown of 2025 balloon-related outages by operating company — JCP&L 24, Ohio Edison 16, Met-Ed 12, The Illuminating Company 9, Penelec 9, Toledo Edison 7, West Penn Power 5, Mon Power 5, Potomac Edison 5 and Penn Power 4 — and urges customers and retailers to take simple precautions. Chad Stoneking, FirstEnergy’s director of safety operations, emphasizes securing helium-filled metallic balloons with weights, trimming ribbons, supervising children, disposing of balloons properly and favoring non-conductive or air-only decorations to reduce the risk of loose balloons contacting lines.

FirstEnergy also asks the public to report any downed power lines immediately and to avoid contact with struck equipment. The company frames the guidance as a community reliability and safety drive rather than a regulatory matter, noting that preventing balloon-related contact reduces outages and the need for potentially dangerous field repairs.

Dividend decision and corporate message

Separately, FirstEnergy’s board declares a quarterly dividend of $0.465 per share payable June 1, 2026, to shareholders of record May 7, 2026, a 4.5% increase from the prior quarterly payout and implying a $1.86 annual rate for 2026 versus $1.78 in 2025, subject to continued board approval.

Company footprint and forward outlook

FirstEnergy reiterates that its distribution companies serve more than 6 million customers across six states and its transmission units operate about 24,000 miles of lines linking the Midwest and Mid‑Atlantic, and it cautions that future decisions remain subject to regulatory, operational and market conditions.