I have as hard time believing that a substation that is that old could have a clean bill of health. However, a large number of instances of stray current are due to 120 volts leaking into the soil or plumbing from failed electrical devices, nicks in direct burial cables, and so forth.

I AGREE WITH MIKE IN BOTH STATEMENTS. AS FOR A QUICK AFFORDABLE FIX. I RECOMMEND: A FULL PROPERTY PEREMITER GROUNDING. THE WATER MAIN IS PROBABLY PLASTIC ? IF SO EXCAVATE NEAR HOUSE ATLEAST 10 FEET OF YOUR WATER MAIN,CONVERT 8 FEET OF THE PIPE TO COPPER AND GROUND THIS TO YOUR PERIMETER GROUNDING INCLUDING BONDING THIS TO YOUR ELECTRICAL SERVICE GROUND. ALSO IF YOU HAVE PROPANE PIPED INTO YOUR HOME WITH COPPER TUBING, ELECTRICALLY GROUND THIS TO THE REST. ALSO CHECK THAT PHONE LINE,CABLE LINE, SATELLITE, ANTENNA ARE ALL TIED TO THIS COMMON GROUNDING. ( STRAY VOLTAGES CAN BE CREATED FROM DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GROUNDING WITH DIFFERENT SYSTEMS).

This is not an extended emf field problem unless it is very close. I agree with Jeff this is probably a grounding problem or a leakage into the ground. Someone needs to go in and do a complete analysis.

I first would check all the grounds then I would take a voltage reading and depending on how much and the pattern go from there.

"Leaking current"? "Stray voltage"? "Pure tones"? (1) transformers are noisy. The higher the voltage, the noisier. A sound enclosure that encloses each transformer could easily resolve that complaint. They are effective and reasonable in cost. A concrete wall at the edge of the substation will hide the substation but not solve the noise/sound issues. (2) Shocks in the home. Yes, the unbalance current from the distribution feeders will flow through earth and some may flow through the wiring and plumbing. At the home, careful single-point grounding and equipotential bonding will solve this completely. A little thoughtful engineering and a willingness to solve the problem would go a long way.

"Hypothetically, Risch said, a grid of copper wire buried beneath the substation to provide protection to workers inside the perimeter might be leaking voltage. The Evans home is 10 feet from the substation's chain-link fence."

Hypothetically if it's +80 years old - does the ground grid even exist today as copper conductors or is it just a corroded mess?

Definitely close enough for EMF issues. Potentially any conductive object could be energized by the magnetic fields.

I agree, If the problem is stray voltage/currents - single point grounding can alleviate those. However, it takes an engineer with a sound understanding of grounding systems to design the appropriate single point grounding solution. All potential earth paths have to be analyized. These should include the water service, telephone service, electrical service entrance, and cable TV service. If the home has a combination of plastic and copper water pipes. Bonding of the metallic water pipes to the home's service panel grounding electrode system is mandatory per the NEC as is bonding of any available grounding electrodes.

With either earth leakage or utility ground faults Mr. Kirchhoff law's will not be denied, i.e., the return currents take all available paths. I would be very worried about potential utility fault return current paths.

Have you ever seen a substation burn-down. I have and it's not pretty! Actually started by a squirrel. I would not want to live within 100 yds of a substation, let alone 10' from the fence........

Acoustic noise from a substation can include tones caused by harmonic currents flowing in the transformer windings and or the utility conductors. Todays power system load includes harmonics components at 180hz, 300hz, 420hz, and 540 hz, 660hz, etc. When these harmonics are combined they may create a complex tone that is objectionable to humans. There have also been studies on the use of noise too torture prisoners and also the psychological impact of noise on humans. Most individuals won't like a pure 8kHz tone.

Quantifying the noise problem shouldn't be rocket science, i.e., the test equipment & methodologies are pretty well known.

Excellent posts - really shows the practical value of Mike's Forum/website.

Also do not forget to bond the electrical service ground to the reinforcing mesh in floor slabs as well as metel drain pipes. If drain pipes are plastic, insert a length of schedule 40 brass or copper pipe using hubless cast iron couplings and then bond to that. Also bond the hot and cold water pipes that are attached to an electric or electrically operated water heater.

I agree with Mike on this one. We have to remember this high voltage, and to work on high voltage requires special equipment. In most case to service the substation the power company will shut it down. Otherwise it's burn equipment to keep your blood from boiling. The house has no business being within 10 feet of it mushless 100 feet.

Back in the 1970s when we were living in one of the suburbs north of Pittsburgh, PA Penn Power eventually put up a concrete wall on 1 side of a substation to shield adjacent houses from the hum of the transformers.

Given that transformers are more efficient and compact than they were even 40 years ago the power company might actually save themselves a bunch of money by building a whole new substation. There is also the matter that you can expect 50 or more year old electrical equipment to explode.

For that matter, a new substation is a chance to do a transmission voltage raise as well as a distribution voltage raise. In Brunswick, Ohio Ohio Edison replaced the old 69KV primary 7,200Y12,470 volt substation with a newer and bigger 138KV primary station across the street. There has been a request on file with the Ohio Power Facilities Siting Commission to do the same thing in Streetsboro, Ohio which is presently served by TWO 69KV primary substations that are a short distance apart. One of them is so heavily taxed that the cooling fans are on 24/7 year round and is right next to a right of way that has spare space for 138KV line. They also installed a 138KV to 69KV transmission station just about 2 blocks away to help serve the 69KV lines in a nearby industrial park.

All told, this utility can solve a lot of problems by building some new facilities. The main problem is how many houses they have to condemn and buy which could be unpopular but then a lot of real estate snots have no idea that there are wires and water pipes in the walls. The electricity needs wires to get to the load as well as substations and other equipment.

I am a substation electrician and am familiar with the design, construction and problems associated with substation operation. Of course without direct investigation my opinions are conjecture.

Let’s begin with the ground matt. The ground mat is intended to provide equipotential protection during faults (shorts to ground) and provide grounding point to bleed induced voltage on metal structures.

The ground matt is usually made of bare copper buried about 18 inches below grade. At several points in the system ground rods are sunk to provide a solid ground. All secondary’s of wye power transformers normally have additional ground rods in place and are connected to the station ground matt.

Decades ago these mats were constructed using mechanical clamps. As with anything mechanical buried in the earth these connections tend to deteriorate over time causing problems, usually within the substation. Current practice is to use exothermically welding to fuse the connection.

Here I begin guessing.

Unless the utility in question is especially stupid they really have tested their ground mat and made repairs as necessary. Problems in the ground mat can damage very expensive equipment. I suggest the problem is not stray voltage.

A substation’s function is to transform transmission voltage to distribution voltage. The operating voltages of the substation were not mentioned in the articles I read. Typical transmission voltages range from 500kV to 60kV. At these levels induced voltage in nearby metal objects is common, as load increases this effect will expand in range.

So it appears the problem is a heavily loaded substation near a house with “normal” grounding. Substation ground mats typically use 40 foot ground rods depending on soil conditions. A 10 foot ground rod will not be sufficient to bleed off induced voltage. Even more problematic is the ground system at the house will normally have current flow. This is in opposition to normal practice of residential electric design and the NEC. As stated in an earlier post, an engineer with expertise in grounding should be called in.

Since the utility is the source of the problem they should provide the solution. Unfortunately the politics of the situation may cloud the issue. Let’s face it the utility has deep pockets and can afford better lawyers. If there is a state oversight entity it should be employed.

Second problem is the noise. Effective sound barriers are available and work reasonably well. The catch is their height is usually 125% more than the device causing the noise. This is obviously expensive to build not to mention ugly as sin and the utility will be reluctant to spend the money. Basically the house was built near an airport and then complains about the noise. The battle will be up hill to say the least.

I’ll stay out of the medical debate about noise and EMF as I have no expertise in the matter.