Chino Group Crashes Topaz Substation Forum

A public forum focused on the Topaz Substation at the corner of Knob Hill and Prospect avenues was disrupted Monday evening when a group of neighborhood activists from Chino Hills decided to air its grievances with Southern California Edison.

More than 100 people attended the meeting—about half of them clad in fluorescent yellow T-shirts representing the "Hope for the Hills" group based in Chino Hills that's protesting the possibility of high-voltage power lines going through its neighborhoods—to hear from representatives of SCE, Southern California Gas Company and the California Public Utilities Commission about stray voltage emanating from the Topaz Substation and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by the power lines running up and down the street.

The issue first came to the attention of many in Redondo Beach after the Easy Reader published an article about Simona Wilson in October. Wilson claims she suffered from nerve damage due to low-voltage electrocution caused by the substation's stray voltage.

In February, CBS Los Angeles profiled several other neighbors. All three had charged gas lines, and a few said they were concerned about high readings when technicians measured for electromagnetic fields in the area.

Throughout the proceeding marked by a smattering of jeers, applause and at one point a standing ovation by the interlopers, Redondo residents living near the Topaz Substation repeatedly asked officials what they could do about their charged gas lines and the EMFs in their neighborhood.

SoCalGas representative Norm Schickling explained that his utility had installed insulator fins—electrical breaks that don't conduct electricity—and anodes that will dissipate the charge along the line.

Additionally, "we've looked at replacing the (aging gas) pipe" from Camino Real to Pacific Coast Highway with polyethylene pipe that doesn't carry a charge, Schickling said.

"It seems to me (SoCalGas) is doing all the work when it's not their problem," Donlou-Richmond said.

Much of her and other attendees' ire was directed toward SCE, especially after it appeared that the utility's representatives were ultimately suggesting Donlou-Richmond and her family move if they wanted to get away from the EMFs.

The exchange between Donlou-Richmond and the SCE representatives sparked a shouting match between one of the Chino Hills attendees and City Attorney Mike Webb.

The attendee only apologized after he realized Webb was the city attorney.

"I thought he was with Edison," he offered as an explanation.

City Councilman Steve Aspel, who organized the meeting, said he found out the Chino Hills group was coming about 20 minutes before they got there. He also told Patch that the group's presence took time away from Redondo Beach residents who wanted their questions answered.

"I appreciate their dilemma; I don't appreciate them crashing our party," Aspel said afterward. "I just think they used our meeting to grandstand their issue."

Lori Barber, whose story was featured in the CBS Los Angeles report, saw it differently. "They were here to support us" because they're dealing with a similar situation, she said.

"I was surprised" the Chino Hills residents came," Donlou-Richmond said. "We did not expect that."

At the end of the meeting, Aspel indicated that he would direct city staff at an upcoming City Council meeting to look into how much it would cost the city to hire an independent consultant to investigate the issue.

Additional articles

• Redondo Beach Residents Address Stray Voltage Concerns With SoCal Edison [CBS Los Angeles]
• Underground Power Lines Spark Redondo Debate [ABC7]
• Residents Alarmed Over Stray Voltage From Redondo Beach Edison Station [Daily Breeze]

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