These kinds of problems can be caused just as easily by a 120 volt electrical line that is leaking current into the soil. During the summer of 1993 I did some work for someone who was getting shocked by perfectly grounded bathtub faucets and a washing machine also perfectly grounded.

What I had to do about the bathtub was to bond the cast iron drainpipe anjd both the hot and cold water lines to the grounding electrode conductor. I also upgraded the grounding conductor from the electrical service to the water service. Still, that did not fix the problem with reaching into the washing machine when barefoot.

I had a lot of problems figuring out the solution until I heard 2 things. One of them is that when I had Ohio Edison resplice the electrical service drop one of their people said that the meter was spinning too fast. The other was that the tenant told me about how they had $200 to $400 per month electrical bills even though all of their major appliances were gas and they did not really use air conditioning. After thinking about this overnight I borrowed a clamp-on ammeter and discovered that the underground line to a detached garage and found that it was leaking 7 amps at 120 volts during a DROUGHT! Since the old steel conduit was not grounded and too rusty for grounding to trip a circuit breaker, what I did to clear the problem was to cut the wires right before the left house. Tingle voltages completely eliminated.

Knowing how high their eletrical bills were, these guys did not need to install an electric driveway deicing system!

This could have just as easily been caused by a neighbor's underground electrical line. As out electrical infrastructure ages, we can expect more of these problems. For that matter, Summit County, Ohio has banned direct burial electrical services because of too many instances of the Rock Circuit Breaker Method and the Tree Root Circuit Breaker Method.

Also, when helping someone at International Exposition Center in Cleveland, Ohio troubleshoot some 480 volt streetlighting circuits, what the forman said about the handholes right before lifting the cover was, "Be very careful in these things, mice like to chew on the wires."

Mike,

You seem to be painting utilities with an extreem broad brush?

Sadened that you gave up on Jodi Lane while the NewYork Times states the commitment of not only Con Ed but the entire industry.

For Con Ed Inspectors, No Voltage Is Too Small to Escape Review By ANTHONY RAMIREZ (NYT); Metropolitan Desk Late Edition - Final, Section B, Page 2, Column 1, 858 words

Stray voltage is a name given to the condition where a small voltage can be measured between metal objects and the earth or concrete floor in and around livestock barns. Livestock farmers have been aware of this condition and dealing with it as far back as 25 years. A very small voltage is common arising from the use of power in buildings and the power delivery system across the countryside. Sometimes this voltage can rise to a level high enough to be felt by livestock standing on a wet floor or the earth. When that happens, steps are taken to reduce the voltage level or prevent the livestock from becoming a part of the stray voltage circuit. Humans in and around swimming pools (OUTSIDE SHOWERS) can be exposed to this same condition, and if the voltage level gets high enough they can feel a tingling sensation. Care must be taken to make sure the wiring is safe and the installation minimizes exposure to perceptible levels of stray voltage.

Metal objects associated with the swimming pool such as ladder, metal plumbing, pool cover frames, metal lighting fixtures in the pool walls, and the water circulating pump are required by the electrical code to be connected together with a solid copper wire that is at least size AWG 8 or larger. This ensures that a voltage cannot develop between the different metal objects that can pose a hazard to humans. This bonding wire, as it is called, does usually connect to the house electrical system neutral terminal, and that terminal is generally the source of this low level neutral-to-earth voltage (stray voltage). When a person stands bare-footed on a paved walkway and touches a metal object or is standing in the shower and touches a metal object fawset, the person makes a connection between the metal object and the earth. Enough current can flow through the person?s body to cause a mild shock. If the pool wall and plumbing are made of nonmetallic materials with no metal objects touching the water the person does not complete an electrical circuit when touching metal objects. When standing in pool of water and making contact with a metal object such as a ladder, or fawset a person can become a part of a neutral-to-earth voltage circuit and receive a milk shock. Objects such as a metal ladder, underwater lights, or metal plumbing making contact with water in the pool can be a way that this voltage gets to the pool water from the electrical system neutral. Even if the pool wall/shower floor is made of nonmetallic materials a person can complete a path to earth.

Borrowing a technique from livestock farmers, the electrical codes across the country have changed to require an equipotential grid to be installed in the walls and floor of all poured concrete swimming pools, and in a paved walkway around any type of swimming pool. This metal grid in the pool wall and floor makes sure the pool walls, floor, and water are at nearly the same voltage potential as any metal object associated with the pool that can be a source of this neutral-to-earth voltage (stray voltage). This equipotential grid can be created by installing sheets of reinforcing steel in the pool floor and walls before the concrete is poured. A copper wire is secured to these sheets of steel and extended out of the wall so they can be properly connected to other metal objects. This wire is required by the electrical code to be solid copper and size AWG 8 or larger. Even though a person may not be exposed to this stray voltage while in some swimming pools, they are still likely to be exposed to this voltage when standing in an outside shower or sitting on a paved walkway around the pool. The new electrical code rules for swimming pool installations requires that this metal equipotential grid be installed in all paved walkways around swimming pools extending out from the pool at least 3 feet. The metal grid in the walkway prevents the person from becoming a part of the stray voltage circuit. With the summer season upon us, many of us will be spending time around swimming pool or in an outside showewr in the months to come. Be aware of the possibility of a voltage condition around a swimming pool or outside shower that can get high enough to be perceived by humans as a tingling or mild shock. In the event this condition is detected, many electrical contractors are trained to investigate neutral-to-earth voltage conditions. Electrical utilities also have trained personnel that can check-out neutral-to-earth voltage conditions. The new rules for installing these equipotential bonding grids in swimming pool floors, walls and walkways are yet a requirement in for outside showers, but anyone who will install a new outside shower, swimming pool or make improvements to an existing installation should give consideration to these new rules. Once the installation is completed it is very difficult to go back and make a retrofit installation of an equipotential grid. The requirements are explained in Article 680 of the 2005 edition of the National Electrical Code. Similar conditions can develop around ponds where electrical equipment such as lights and pumps make contact with the water. Soon rules will go into effect to insure personal electrical safety for them as well.

Stray voltage is a name given to the condition where a small voltage can be measured between metal objects and the earth or concrete floor in and around livestock barns. Livestock farmers have been aware of this condition and dealing with it as far back as 25 years. A very small voltage is common arising from the use of power in buildings and the power delivery system across the countryside. Sometimes this voltage can rise to a level high enough to be felt by livestock standing on a wet floor or the earth. When that happens, steps are taken to reduce the voltage level or prevent the livestock from becoming a part of the stray voltage circuit. Humans in and around swimming pools (OUTSIDE SHOWERS) can be exposed to this same condition, and if the voltage level gets high enough they can feel a tingling sensation. Care must be taken to make sure the wiring is safe and the installation minimizes exposure to perceptible levels of stray voltage.

Metal objects associated with the swimming pool such as ladder, metal plumbing, pool cover frames, metal lighting fixtures in the pool walls, and the water circulating pump are required by the electrical code to be connected together with a solid copper wire that is at least size AWG 8 or larger. This ensures that a voltage cannot develop between the different metal objects that can pose a hazard to humans. This bonding wire, as it is called, does usually connect to the house electrical system neutral terminal, and that terminal is generally the source of this low level neutral-to-earth voltage (stray voltage). When a person stands bare-footed on a paved walkway and touches a metal object or is standing in the shower and touches a metal object fawset, the person makes a connection between the metal object and the earth. Enough current can flow through the person?s body to cause a mild shock. If the pool wall and plumbing are made of nonmetallic materials with no metal objects touching the water the person does not complete an electrical circuit when touching metal objects. When standing in pool of water and making contact with a metal object such as a ladder, or fawset a person can become a part of a neutral-to-earth voltage circuit and receive a milk shock. Objects such as a metal ladder, underwater lights, or metal plumbing making contact with water in the pool can be a way that this voltage gets to the pool water from the electrical system neutral. Even if the pool wall/shower floor is made of nonmetallic materials a person can complete a path to earth.

Borrowing a technique from livestock farmers, the electrical codes across the country have changed to require an equipotential grid to be installed in the walls and floor of all poured concrete swimming pools, and in a paved walkway around any type of swimming pool. This metal grid in the pool wall and floor makes sure the pool walls, floor, and water are at nearly the same voltage potential as any metal object associated with the pool that can be a source of this neutral-to-earth voltage (stray voltage). This equipotential grid can be created by installing sheets of reinforcing steel in the pool floor and walls before the concrete is poured. A copper wire is secured to these sheets of steel and extended out of the wall so they can be properly connected to other metal objects. This wire is required by the electrical code to be solid copper and size AWG 8 or larger. Even though a person may not be exposed to this stray voltage while in some swimming pools, they are still likely to be exposed to this voltage when standing in an outside shower or sitting on a paved walkway around the pool. The new electrical code rules for swimming pool installations requires that this metal equipotential grid be installed in all paved walkways around swimming pools extending out from the pool at least 3 feet. The metal grid in the walkway prevents the person from becoming a part of the stray voltage circuit. With the summer season upon us, many of us will be spending time around swimming pool or in an outside showewr in the months to come. Be aware of the possibility of a voltage condition around a swimming pool or outside shower that can get high enough to be perceived by humans as a tingling or mild shock. In the event this condition is detected, many electrical contractors are trained to investigate neutral-to-earth voltage conditions. Electrical utilities also have trained personnel that can check-out neutral-to-earth voltage conditions. The new rules for installing these equipotential bonding grids in swimming pool floors, walls and walkways are yet a requirement in for outside showers, but anyone who will install a new outside shower, swimming pool or make improvements to an existing installation should give consideration to these new rules. Once the installation is completed it is very difficult to go back and make a retrofit installation of an equipotential grid. The requirements are explained in Article 680 of the 2005 edition of the National Electrical Code. Similar conditions can develop around ponds where electrical equipment such as lights and pumps make contact with the water. Soon rules will go into effect to insure personal electrical safety for them as well.

If you believe Ms. Lane's death is due to "stray voltage," then you are part of the problem. Back to the definition of "stray voltage" and her case is not.

The lady's house might be "stray voltage," but is the result of two separate unconnected ground systems. These are no easy to find, and as you indicated a green engineer will not find. Most serviemen or linemen do not know enough theory to fine. It takes experinece, no substitute.

I would think that a death due to utility caused stray voltage would be treated as priority one for 2 reasons: 1) The law suit that is coming. 2) What they would learn in the process of fixing it.

Heck! Sue em!

I work on a livestock farm and have no reason to believe there is a problem at work; but I have a friend that does.

My friend owns a dairy farm in my area, He hired a liscensed electrician to install a new electrical system for the entire farm.

It took 5 years to notice a problem on the farm. They were downsizing their herd to reduce expenses to pay for the new system; so, no reason to look for a problem. Once they had the system paided for they bought new daiy cattle but the cattle weren't producing how they should.

He hired a feed expert to look at his feed, but found no problem. Checked the equipment, and being 240V equipment he used the ground to check for voltage, and couldn't find a problem; yet the equipment worked. He checked the grounding conductor and didn't find a problem with any of them; until he reached the transformer. IT WASN'T CONNECTED AT ALL!!!!

Now the electrician that installed the new system is being sued for the lost profits from those 5 years plus the system itself.

All--in--all I can relate IT SUCKS!

This sounds like a case where Ms. Armstrong will need a good real property attorney in Massachusetts to argue that she is being subjected to a private nuisance, and other possible torts.

If you do a Google search on BARNSTABLE Nstar, you'll find a photo/webcast story of Ms. Armstrong at her outdoor shower

Jonathan Kramer, Esq. Kramer Telecom Law Firm, P.C. (and a big fan of Mike Holt)

I also ran into a situation like this about 20 years ago in Meridith NH. I was at a campground and a barefoot friend of mine went to step into his trailer and got a shock with one foot still on the ground. He called me over and I took a digital meter stuck 1 probe in the ground and 1 on his trailer and had 93 volts. I reported this to the office and suggest that they contact there electrician to check the grouns. After 2 hours of checking ground and panels he and I determined it was a problem of Power Services of NH. They showed up and stated oh we know we have a problem but we are in bankruptcy so we don't have to fix it. The next call was to the DPU of NH, the problem was fixed.

We\'ve had experience where the utility neutral was open and the ground was pulling the unbalanced load. Then actually had to demonstrate it to the utility co. before they would check their neutral at the transformer.

I think that someone should take Tom May to the house and make him take out one of his favorite appendages and have him touch something metal, Maybe then he will realize what is actually happening....Just another round of corporate B.S. when it comes to elect. companys, They want to raise our electric bills to the clouds, but when it is apperant they have a problem, Where are they and do they really care....Tell this little old lady to stop paying her bill until they fix the problem....Maybe that will open there eyes.....

Generally lawyers sue the deepest pockets, which are the utility CUSTOMERS. Businesses don't pay judgments, they just raise prices and the customer pays. If the higher ups in the utilities were made personally liable, the response would be different.

We had an unrelated case here where a Federal agency violated the civil rights of a citizen. The lawyer sued the agents personally, and the courts held they could be sued personally for acting without proper authority. Though they had bankrupted themselves and the citizen and lawyer got very little in judgment, we haven't had this kind of trouble from that agency since. The individual bully slap down served notice on them to behave properly. If the citizen and his lawyer had sued the government, they would have made millions, but the agents would still be acting up because it would be no skin off their back.

In egregious cases, the higher level folks at these businesses should be held personally liable. That would nip this in the bud.

I\'ve seen this same scenario in other walks of life. It\'s what happens when \"Big Brother\" gets to big. Authorities don\'t like admitting that they are wrong because it gets us (the little people) thinking. How many times have they been wrong in the past or will be wrong in the future? Instead they try to weasel their way out of the situation, making a donkeys *#?! of themselves, and we (the little people) never trust them again. WAKE UP AMERICA! Doesn\'t the phrase \"WE THE PEOPLE\" mean anything anymore? We need to get back an track.

I don't know the actual voltage being read on the property, but, if it can be felt... I'd look into installing a low voltage system and get free power! Possible install a transformer and power the whole house. I bet the power company would look twice then.

If you look at the whole picture, there has been little change in the equipment and methods used to distribute electrical energy at a local residential level, however, I do remember the change-out of transformers and other equipment using oils containing PCB's. This was done in a relatively short time, on a national level. The driving force behind this action may be what is needed to rectify this Issue.

In relationship to the discussion on Substation Stray Voltage at a Home down the street. This is typical of a substation not being properly grounded to avoid stray voltage beyond the property line. In wet or acidic soils this type of grounding needs more attention to be sure it is working. Trying to fix the problem at the house will never fix the problem. The after the fact "cleanup" is probably more expensive than buying the house.

It is not surprising to me that the true causes are not understood by most contractors and even utilities. I have no data to support my theory but I would say an unfortunately small percentage of people in the entire electrical industry, private or public, have adequate theoretical knowledge. Worse that that is when people do not admit they don't have a clue! Being ignorant is not wrong, giving the impression your not, when you are, is not only wrong but dangerous as well. (Just an opinion).

i'm not surprized. I wonderr how long those big utilities would take if it was there wife or children were getting the shocks. They would proobably move and let the next homeowner deal with it.

I don't think you should have resigned from the foundation. I'm sure it was frustrating, but I would have liked to have read that you are ramping up efforts and public support until something is done, just like David Mugar.

This is a typical response from NStar.'' Its not my problem.'' This is clearly evident in dealing with Nstar. After serving 18 years as Wiring inspector I found the company great in the mid 80's but as time went on it became increasling difficult to deal with to the point where most Nstar employees hide behind voice mail and only return calls on a selective basis. If you are calling with a problem you will not get a return call. The company should return to its roots Customer Service First.

I do a lot of work for a local hospital who along with the local power company were considering co-building a substation at the back corner of their property. Can you imagine if a similar problem was to happen at such a facility. Sad to say but it may just take such an occurence to move the industry to take action. And I thought the AHJ was all I had to worry about.

Wow, how about someone installing a giant humungous diode arrangement on all of the service drops and push all of the neutral voltages right back into the utilities system.

Maybe a good salesman could convince the brillant green engineers and the bean counters that this could cost them more than properly reconfiguring their neutral at sub stations.

Jerry E.

As a journeyman lineman and a journeyman industrial electrician this is an bad attitude. Thats why he's worth more I guess.

Mike,

Your involvement with the Jodie Lane project was very interesting. May I share my story? Last June 7-8, the first “Jodie Lane National Conference for Stray Voltage Detection, Mitigation, and Prevention” was held in NYC. This event was cosponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Consolidated Edison. We responded to the broadcast call for papers, and after several weeks, we were told that paper presentations were limited to utility companies only. While we were disappointed about not being able to present at this event billed as “The power industry’s most comprehensive event focused on urban stray voltage and public safety issues”, we thought it odd that this group would not be interested in hearing from a company that already had 5 years of utility electrical testing experience and our lessons learned. (All the utilities that did present had established testing programs less than a year before- some less than 6 months.)

We tried to make arrangements to attend the conference as guest rather than presenters, but this too was limited to utility companies only.

While I greatly respect the EPRI, I must express my disappointment over the management of this conference and their claim that it was “National” or the “most comprehensive event” of it’s kind.

Yes-I worked at a fairly high level for a (namelsss) electric utility co. and, after a while, I resigned. Electricity (the reason they're in business) is the last thing on their minds. I was rather surprised to observe that their focus was first and foremost on: "how can we raise rates even more?"-even right after a rate increase! There were many employees whose constant 9 to 5 job was to figure out how to raise rates. They had a little "army" inside the co., producing tons of documentation to support requests to federal & state agencies for rate increases. The second focus was on profits-even at the expense or inconvenience of-you guessed it-their customers. I bet if a high utiltiy co exec. had a stray voltage problem it would be fixed right away. Oh yes-it seemed like the utility co employees who knew most about "electricity", e.g., their electrical engineers, had little or no say about co policies, esp. when it came to relations with their customers. There were many MBA's & other non-electrical people who made policy. It was in this manner that electric utility companies "went to ground" since they became deregulated. I found the entrenchment so deep that I could do nothing. Maybe it's time to return to regulation.

Why did no one try the old lineman's test for the problem before doing all the grounding?

Here it is 1) clamp a lead to the energized equipment(pipe, hvac unit or etc.), 2) attach this lead to a volt meter, 3) attach another long lead to volt meter with other end attached to a 2' #4 bare solid cu wire, 4) stick this cu wire in ground at various places -usually in a circle. --- bang -- if voltage rises and points to utility transformer location -- have transformer replaced and connections reworked. -- surprise -- problem is solved. --no joke have seen this done and it works -- too simple for most folks.

fellas..I dont understand..by stray voltage do you mean that basically the ground under the Ladies home is ?..HOT?so the metal piping is actually a conductor? What about inserting plastic elemnets as an stand off measure?..is the current felt at the spigots ACcurrent in nature or DC Lord if the entire area underground beneath the house is HOT electrically what good would a cooper blanket do?..Heck you'd have to dig up the entire house and put it IN an copper bath tub and then fill the surrounding area with a non-conductor

Please explain..if anyone knows..this is tragic but damn fascinating...I am an good electrician..but this...well this is beyond logical comprehension

If the current is naturally occurring..which it doesnt seem to be....would it be DC in nature....what voltage was measured?....Antway to harness that voltage?..at what amperage was measured?

Thank you in advance for what ever you could tell me

Mike, it is the golden rule.... those with the gold rule! Sad as it may be corporations most often are run by individuals that are more interested in their own level of power and income than the customer they service. That in good measure is a judgement of our society today. The American people allow this to happen.

Hang in there Kate. Don't give up. Stay one step ahead of them and don't let them intimidate you. This is just another example of a big monopoly. If we all had a chance to choose our our utility, car insurance (Massachusetts), RMV etc...there'd be a lot fewer of these types of stories.

A lot of stray voltage comes from the neutral connection in the service lines having bad connections to the power supplier neutral. Then the current tries to go out the "grounding" system, which copper pipes, panel covers, metal drains are all a part of. Try measuring the current through the grounding conductor. If ANY current is present, check out the neutral connections from the panel to the supplier neutral. I have had two cases of this in the past several years, and each time, there was measurable current in the grounding conductor.

Mike,

I think that the comment about the utilities is very accurate in terms of a fear of liability. In our dealings with the utility around our area it is a "Deny any knowledge and place blame" mentality. We have caught them in a number of lies and they still place blame on anyone but themselves.

The worst part is here in Ohio the PUCO is nothing more than a joke. Most with the PUCO here in Ohio have either worked for the utilities or see the PUCO job as a stepping stone to work for the utilities.

Do you know if this lady is the only person in the area getting zapped. Maybe the problem goes deeper than a lossed neutral or a primary neutral blocker. Could it be that solving this problem will avoid greater problems in the future.

I was hired as a consultant to a home builder for a similar situation. A young couple had purchased their dream home on the edge of right-of-way for a 345kV utility transmission line. They would receive shocks while taking a shower. I was asked to investigate if the electrician had done anything wrong, as the couple was suing the builder. I measured 90V between the shower water faucet and drain. However, all grounding and bonding in the home were done perfectly. Just in case, we installed several new copper ground rods and increased the grounding electrode conductor and water line bond size and reterminated everything. As we expected, it made little or no difference. The only way we could improve the situation for the homeowner is tear out the ceiling below the shower, install a copper drain pipe and trap and bond it to the waterline to eliminate the potential difference. But just as in your article, these are homeowners that have seen the value of their property drop to less than half what they paid for it. Unfortunately, the homeowners and the builder are powerless to remedy the situation at this location. The utility won't do anything to help except verify the property line is outside the right-of-way.

Being an engineer, my first response would be to identify the real problem causing the undesirable voltage which would then lead to the solution that would actually fix the problem. Putting in ground rods & crossing fingers isn't addressing the root cause of the problem. In this case, one suspect is the substation down the street, but there's also a chance it is related to something in the home. A question not answered in the article, are any of Kate's neighbors experiencing similar problems?

The problem is, industry-wide, there aren't many people skilled enough to actually diagnose the root cause of the problem. This is a specialized area that requires a really good understanding of grounding systems and why codes and standards are written the way they are and the likely consequences of doing things differently. Knowledge of codes and IEEE standards is only a small part of it. Being able to diagnose a problem like the one related in the story is a skill that not many have.

There are some people who make a living on it, but they are few, and some of them aren't as good as they advertise.

Mike, a quick observation here. Most stray voltage situations that get publicized are AC situations and therefor lead back to the local power company eventually. Don't forget the DC stray voltages from railroad rectilfier stations and the related trackage for the rolling stock. Those DC currents flow great distances and cause lots of corrosion on underground items. It follows that stray voltages in general may contain a DC offset that has to be considered.

I agree with Mike the power company needs to fix the problem, and yes there is one. All the grounding in the world may not fix this problem and may very well make it worst.

In working with the power companies in North Carolina I have found some not all, will first deny it, and if pressed will go all out to fix it. They really can not afford for this to be on the 6 o'clock news or God forbid some one get hurt. As a young engineer I worked with a power company they can and should do better than this.

Thanks Mike for bringing this to everyone's attention, this is more common than you realize.

Mike, I retired from a large utility in 2005. One of my job duties was investigate and solve stray voltage issues. My former utility company position was if the main breaker was opened and customer still had stray voltage we owned the problem. I would investigate, identify and fix the stray voltage issues caused by the utility. I don’t understand why these issues are not being addressed by local utilities. I can say that when I work for the utility we fixed all the stray voltage issues. The utility I worked for wanted to solve these problems by working with the customer and not allowing an escalation to the Board of Public Utilities. It was and still is good business to not allow your company name to be soiled in the public spotlight. In my opinion stray voltage issues can be resolved by the utility.

I cannot doubt your experiences. For a variety of reasons, we are all so afraid of lawyers and gold diggers that even the most minor traffic accident becomes a game of denial.

There is also a set of circumstances that rewards the guy who denies a problem exists, delays taking any action, and manipulates the situation, escalating it beyond resolution.

I can only suggest that the problem goes far deeper than any procedural fix - and that most proposed "solutions" have already been tried, with the opposite results, elsewhere.