In the 1950's, the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) required a neutral wire to return current to the utilities. This was not required in rural areas until 1960. It is forbidden by the NESC 92D for the earth to be used as the neutral return. In fact, on page 152 of the NESC Handbook Fourth Edition it says, "When earth returns were used in some rural areas prior to the 1960's they became notorious offenders in dairy areas because circulating currents often caused both step and touch potentials." It concludes "these have adversely affected milking operations by shocking the cattle when they were connected to the milking machines, and have affected feeding." These are exactly the issues that farmers face today.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has allowed the utilities to install grounding rods on the neutral return wire, instead of increasing the size of the neutral wires. (Overloading of the wires is a fire hazard and installing grounding rods is less costly on a short-term basis than upgrading the neutral.) Current then flows down the grounding rods and through the earth back to the substation when the wire is over loaded. A Minnesota study found that over 70% of the current returns to the substation via the earth in some areas. Dr. Duane Dahlberg's paper entitled "Why Ground Currents" briefly discusses the origin and health ramifications of electrical ground currents citing many industry , university, and independant studies.

In 1957, 10 billion Kilowatt-hours of electricity were sold statewide. In 2000, 65 billion Kilowatt-hours of electricity were sold statewide. Assuming problems occurred prior to 1960 with a total earth neutral return, all current returning via the earth, 10 billion Kilowatt-hours of electricity flowing through the earth caused health problems for cattle. Now, assuming that 70% of the electricity returns via the earth in 2000, there are 45 billion Kilowatt-hours returning through the earth in 2000. This means that there is nearly five times as much electricity returning through the earth now than there was in 1957. In effect, we are being exposed to more electrical pollution now than we were in the 1950's when the neutral wire became a requirement.

These numbers show conclusively why loopholes need to be closed and better enforcement of the regulations is needed. According to the NESC no objectionable current flow is allowed down the grounding rod, however the NESC left objectionable without a numerical definition. This has left it up to individuals to prove that current flow that occurs is objectionable. Legislation like Wisconsin Rep. Barbara Gronemus's (2003 Assembly Bill AB529) and (2001 Assembly Bill 754) would take the onus off of individuals by providing a concrete definition of objectionable i.e. "a steady state of current for five seconds or more." Defining objectionable in this manner means there would be no current flow allowed on the neutral grounding wire except under fault conditions e.g. lightening strikes.

We use power differently today than in the 1950's. An increasing percentage of electricity is used for non-linear, time-varying loads (e.g. electronics like TVs or computers, dimmer switches, and variable speed motors). Non-linear, time-varying loads distort the sine wave causing high frequencies. The distorted sine wave or "dirty" power sees a higher resistance on the wire, so a larger return wire is necessary. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) addressed this in the IEEE Standard 519-1992 which states that modern loads require a neutral wire 225% of the size of the phase wires. At this time in the United States, it is unusual for the neutral wire to even be the same size as the phase wires. Most of the neutrals are half the size of the phase wires. The electricity that cannot flow on the neutral, because the neutral is too small, travels back to the substation through the earth.

Yes, in addition to outlining the sizing of the neutral necessary for modern electronic loads, the IEEE 519-1992 discusses other techniques for improving power quality. It addresses the use of filters to decrease distortion. It also grants the utilities the right to deny service to major power-quality polluters if they do not clean up the power to certain specifications before they return it to the line. This can be done relatively inexpensively at the source and would substantially relieve the overloading of the neutral wire. At this time few of the utilities in the United States have exercised that right.

There are isolation devices that allow current down the down-grounds in fault or lightening situations, but would act like an open circuit (an example of an open circuit is a light switch in the off position) under normal circumstances. Installation of these devices on all the down grounds would be one way to ensure no current returns to the substation via the earth while maintaining the safety benefits of a grounded system.

Unlike the electrical earth currents of the 1950's, electrical earth currents today are not a clean 60 Hz sine wave. They are as "dirty" with high frequencies as the power that returns to the substation. They are the return current that does not flow on the wire. As the prevalence of non-linear, time-varying loads increases, the return power and the earth currents get dirtier. High frequencies cause health problems at very low voltages in part because the energy is higher with higher frequencies. Because of the high frequencies, modern electrical ground currents are actually worse for you at the same voltage than the "clean" electrical earth currents that caused problems in the 1950's. Ground Currents: An important factor in electromagnetic exposure by Dr. Duane Dahlberg deals in detail with the importance of exposure to electrical ground currents. We are all in contact with electrical ground currents when we do such everyday activities as wash the dishes, shower, or sit on the lawn. Did the utilities ask your permission to make you part of an electrical circuit?

In addition to being part of an electrical circuit because of the electrical earth currents, each person is capacitively coupled to the wires running around them through the walls, floor, and ceiling of the building where they live or work. Electrical engineers know about capacitive coupling, but they have also been taught that the result is insignificant. They have not read or choose to ignore publications like Cross Currents by Robert O. Becker, MD in which he discusses the extreme sensitivity of the human body to electromagnetic fields/radiation and Electromagnetic Fields and the Life Environment by Karel Marha, Jan Musil, and Hana Tuha in which they describe the symptoms humans experience with chronic exposure to high frequencies. The description of the symptoms of exposure to high frequencies in Electromagnetic Fields and the Life Environment touches on all of the most minor and puzzling symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), as well as, all of the widely accepted ones.

Lloyd Morgan , an Electronic Engineer with a BA in Electronic Engineering from University of California - Berkeley, and a member of Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States wrote about electrical pollution, complete with scientific references and anecdotal evidence, in a recent letter of which excerpts are available here (Part 1 and Part 2).

The symptoms of CFS, Fibromyalgia, and Gulf War Syndrome are all virtually identical to those of Radio Wave Sickness. In addition to causing Radio Wave Sickness, exposure to high frequencies seems to be linked to a myriad of health problems including depression, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), cancer, infertility, miscarriages, birth defects, allergies, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and Lou Gehrig's Disease. In fact, the California Department of Health study "Final Report of the California EMF Program: An Evaluation of the Possible Risks from Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFS) from Power Lines, Internal Wiring, Electrical Occupations, and Appliances" concludes that exposure to powerline emf is a risk factor for these illnesses. The news has been full of speculation over why the rates of these ailments have increased over the last several years. The experts seem unable to find a cause. There is, however, a logical reason. If you look at the statistics, the proportion of electricity used for non-linear, time-varying (electronic) loads has been on the rise and continues to rise. The growth in non-linear, time-varying loads seems to relate proportionally to the increase of modern ailments listed above. There is evidence linking exposure to high frequencies to each of these modern ailments. Until recently only a few people realized the source of the exposure. People are becoming sick who should not be at risk. Unbeknownst to them, they are being exposed to high frequencies through exposure to "dirty" power. Without an oscilloscope or a meter, it is impossible for the average person to detect. (See the simple, easy to use Ubiquitous Pollutant Meter outlined in "A Ubiquitous Pollutant"). Electricity is the most widely accepted and most poorly understood of the modern conveniences.

Symptoms of Radio Wave Sickness (excerpted from No Place To Hide April 2001):

• Neurological: headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, irritability, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, weakness, tremors, muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, altered reflexes, muscle and joint paint, leg/foot pain, "Flu-like" symptoms, fever. More severe reactions can include seizures, paralysis, psychosis and stroke.
  
• Cardiac: palpitations, arrhythmias, pain or pressure in the chest, low or high blood pressure, slow or fast heart rate, shortness of breath.
  
• Respiratory: sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma.
  
• Dermatological: skin rash, itching, burning, facial flushing.
  
• Ophthalmologic: pain or burning in the eyes, pressure in/behind the eyes, deteriorating vision, floaters, cataracts.
  
• Others: digestive problems; abdominal pain; enlarged thyroid, testicular/ovarian pain; dryness of lips, tongue, mouth, eyes; great thirst; dehydration; nosebleeds; internal bleeding; altered sugar metabolism; immune abnormalities; redistribution of metals within the body; hair loss; pain in the teeth; deteriorating fillings; impaired sense of smell; ringing in the ears.

No. Modern electrical devices are not tested for safety with long-term usage. Electrical devices of all types are only safety tested to be sure they are not a gross electrocution or fire hazard or immediately fatal in some other way. They are not tested for long-term health effects. These experiments are being conducted currently in an ongoing manner on our entire population, including you. The results thus far are damning for devices that put a lot of high frequencies on electrical wiring or are microwave or radiofrequency transmitters.

Probably not. You will probably need to limit your exposure to all sources of radio frequencies. See the end of the Solutions page for a more in depth discussion of the issue of transmitters.

Yes, "dirty" power can cause the utilities to over-bill you for the power you use. The standard disk-type electrical rate meters were designed for "clean" 60 Hz power. They are standardized for measuring "clean" 60 Hz power. With the dramatic increase in non-linear, time-varying loads the power that is delivered to your house or business is no longer "clean" power. The "dirty' power can cause the rate meters not designed for use with "dirty" power to read inaccurately.

The Solution: Both the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) have identified remedies for electrical ground currents. Formulate and enact legislation in each state requiring utilities to use identified remedies to eliminate electrical ground currents and clean up "dirty" power.

In Wisconsin, Rep. Barbara Gronemus introduced legislation that defines the desired endpoint - no current on the grounding rods except during fault situations - and allows the utilities to pick the best solution for each situation. This bill should serve as a template for future legislation to address this problem. The bill is Rep. Gronemus' Electrical Consumers Bill of Rights (2003 Assembly Bill AB529). This truly is a bill that was introduced on behalf of all citizens of Wisconsin.

On the Take Action! page there is a list of steps you can take to help end the electrical pollution problem and preserve public health and safety. Help us help you! Thanks.