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2008 Policy Book
First | Previous | Next | Last | 2008 Index | Policy Book Archive#34 POWER QUALITY AND ELECTRICAL POLLUTION
Power quality and electrical pollution are problems affecting farms and farm families. Power quality and electrical pollution can be attributed to a number of potential sources.
We urge all utility companies, including cable television, to improve their maintenance of utility rights-of-way to decrease the possibility of neutral to ground electrical pollution.
We will work with electric suppliers and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to resolve the problems surrounding power quality and electrical pollution issues on farms to ensure that this problem is resolved in a fair and equitable manner for the electrical users.
The stray voltage/electrical pollution standards being approved by the PSC will continue to be monitored. The standards were developed with input from the livestock industry and the Michigan Agriculture Electric Council.
Research is needed to determine specifically where and how poor power quality and electrical pollution affects animals and people.
To protect the health of livestock and humans, electric utilities must only use approved and proven engineering practices that reduce or eliminate levels of stray voltage/electrical pollution neutral to earth voltage.
We will support the development of realistic standards and investigations, when necessary, by a third party to promote an unbiased result.
We urge utility companies to become more efficient by upgrading their electrical distributions system to meet the demands of current electrical utilization and safety standards.
Permits for a farmer to make emergency electrical repairs on farmer-owned property shall be available on a 24/7 basis. Some townships require all electrical work be accomplished by a licensed electrical contractor.
