Community Corner

Families: Topaz Substation a Health Risk

A CBS Los Angeles report shines the spotlight on stray voltage emanating from the Topaz Substation on Knob Hill and Prospect avenues.

More residents who live near Southern California Edison's Topaz Substation at the corner of Knob Hill and Prospect avenues are coming forward with concerns about stray voltage seeping into their homes and charged gas lines, according to a CBS Los Angeles report aired and published Thursday night.

The story of the stray voltage apparently emanating from the substation first broke in October when the Easy Reader published a story about Simona Wilson, 32, who said she suffered from low-voltage electrocution and nerve damage because her shower head was electrically charged. Every time she adjusted the shower head, voltage seeped into her body.

When technicians from SCE inspected Wilson's home, which is next to the substation, they discovered that the gas line was carrying a nine-volt charge. Technicians measured three to five volts of electricity at the shower head and four volts in the home's earth ground.

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Neighbors Lori Barber, Doris Donlou-Richmond and Mary Contreras have also expressed concerns.

Southern California Gas marked Donlou-Richmond's meter "11 volts," meaning that the gas line is electrically charged and employees should steer clear because of the explosive risk.

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"It's been three and a half years," Donlou-Richmond told CBS Los Angeles. "They haven't resolved the issue, and there's no notation on my account other than they are not allowed to touch my gas line due to it being electrically charged."

Wilson told Patch that the majority of residents in the 800 and 900 blocks of Knob Hill Avenue have gas lines carrying charges ranging from one to 11 volts.

"(SCE and SoCalGas) have been going door-to-door, telling residents that they plan to insulate the gas line and hope that this will remove the potential for stray voltage," Wilson said, calling the plan a "band-aid." "They really need to find what's causing the stray voltage over multiple blocks! Edison is covering the expense … and they are going to start digging on Tuesday."

Residents are also worried about electromagnetic fields measured around the neighborhood.

Barber told CBS Los Angeles that she fears her daughter Adelaide's partially paralyzed esophagus and inexplicable gastrointestinal issues—the 14-month-old girl was recently hospitalized—stem from the EMFs surrounding her property.

Contreras, who lives directly behind the substation, believes her son's joint problems and tumor and her own headaches are caused by the EMFs.

Nevertheless, SCE has dismissed concerns about EMFs in the area. In a , SCE representative Scott Gobble said that though the EMF readings surrounding the Topaz Substation were higher than most, there's no set allowable range for the readings.

"Electricity is everywhere," Gobble told the City Council. "There are electromagnetic fields everywhere we live."

Despite the fact that EMF exposure has been linked to miscarriages and asthma, Gobble downplayed the issue to the Council.

"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."

CBS Los Angeles reported that SCE residents said they would "work with … Wilson's family on the stray voltage issue, and said she could even hire the contractor of her choice to fix the problem."

After Patch inquired about whether SCE had reached out to her, Wilson said that the utility was doing "damage control."

"They are the only entity (that) can fix the 'stray voltage' issue, and they have admittedly been unable to for over 20 years," she said in an email. "They have proposed only 'band-aids'—no solutions. They have never come up with a plan to eliminate the stray voltage or decrease the EMFs. They have only offered to modify my house to make it less conductive and allow the stray voltage to continue indefinitely."

Wilson, who has started a blog about her experience, and her family moved from their four-bedroom home in September. She has also filed a lawsuit against SCE.

Barber moved out in November. She and Contreras have engaged a lawyer, but a complaint has not been filed, Wilson said.

In response to inquiries from CBS Los Angeles about stray voltage around , Principal Susan Wildes sent a letter home to students saying that "any potential issues related to the homes in the area did not pose a threat to Alta Vista," according to SCE, SoCalGas and representatives from Redondo Beach's Planning and Engineering and Public Works departments. (See attached .pdf for a copy of the letter.)


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