Edison Addresses Topaz Substation Concerns

An October Easy Reader article about a woman living next to Southern California Edison's Topaz substation on the corner of Prospect Avenue and Knob Hill sparked a wave of concern.

According to the Easy Reader report, Simona Wilson suffered from low-voltage electrocution, supposedly a result of stray electricity emanating from the neighboring substation.

The article "kind of shocked—no pun intended—the neighbors," said Edison spokesman Scott Gobble at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

"I personally went out to six of the homes and two of the businesses that are in the area" to test for shock treatment and electromagnetic fields, said Gobble. The readings were taken in late October and November, he said.

"On all the properties that we went in there was absolutely no shock issue," Gobble said. Readings for electromagnetic fields were higher than they are in other neighborhoods because there are power lines on both sides of the homes; however, there's no set allowable range for the readings.

"Electricity is everywhere," Gobble explained. "There are electromagnetic fields everywhere we live."

He then addressed concerns that some might have about electromagnetic fields.

"Electric magnetic fields have not directly been connected to any human health issue of a whole," though they may be a carcinogen, he said. Then again, "our experts say coffee is a carcinogen."

Gobble could not specifically comment on Wilson's home because she filed legal action against the company.

Councilman Steve Aspel, whose District 1 covers the area, asked Gobble to keep him apprised of any developments.

"The list [of concerned people] keeps growing," Aspel said. "It's mostly people on Knob Hill, and then it's gone back to Avenue A … Most of them are just concerned."