Please keep the following safety tips in mind if you are considering using
a portable generator:
Have
a licensed electrician do any wiring needed to connect the generator
to electric circuits. Read and understand the manufacturer's
instructions before your generator is connected to your electrical
circuits. Plug electric appliances into the generator
using a heavy-duty extension cord.
DO
NOT connect the output of your generator directly to your house
wiring or service panel. This can create electrical back feed to
the PWP distribution system and put field service crews in jeopardy of
receiving severe or fatal electric shocks.
To
notify PWP of a generator location, please call PWP Customer Service
at (626) 744-4005.
Warning!!
Improper use and connection of a back up or portable generator
can be a safety hazard. If you have an electric generator that
is, or can be, connected to your electrical wiring, state law requires
you to notify PWP of its location. Violators can be subject to
fines up to $500 or six months' imprisonment (Section 119090 of the
California Health and Safety Code).
Tree
trimming is done by utilities to protect the electrical power lines.
State law also requires utility companies to maintain specific clearances
(depending on the voltage) between electric lines and all
vegetation. Here are some additional reasons for pruning and
removing trees near high voltage power lines:
Public
Safety - to prevent injury to people climbing or working in trees
adjacent to power lines.
Fire
Safety - trees in contact with high voltage power lines can act as an
ignition source of fires.
Reduce
Outages - trees represent one of the largest causes of power outages
in California.
Homeowner
prevention can help prevent electric outages, fire, and public safety
hazards by:
Plant
the right tree in the right place. If you must plant trees near
power lines, make sure the maximum mature tree height is ten feet away
from the closest power line.
Trees
should be selected so they can reach their full height without the
need for frequent trimming.
Never
allow children to climb trees growing near power lines
Never
prune trees near electric lines. Call the utility company first
to inspect the trees. In many instances the utility may perform
the tree work at no cost to the homeowner.
Inspect
the trees on your property annually for hazards. For expert
advice on tree health or hazards consult an International Society of
Arboriculture Certified Arborist.
(Information reviewed by the California Public
Utilities Commission and the Department of Health Services)
Can EMF Harm Your Health?
Many questions have been raised about the possible health effects of
60-Hertz (power frequency) electric and magnetic fields (EMF), which are
found wherever you have electric power. EMFs are present wherever
electricity flows - around appliances and power lines, and in offices,
schools, and homes. Many researchers believe that if there is a risk
of adverse health effects from usual residential exposures to EMF, it is
probably just at the detection limit of human health studies; nonetheless,
the possible risk warrants further investigation. The varying
results from epidemiological studies linking estimated EMF exposures with
childhood leukemia and one kind of leukemia in adult workers are
consistent with a weak effect. Laboratory experiments have shown
that EMF can cause changes in living cells. It is not clear whether
these changes suggest any risk to human health.
The results from many research studies will be reported by both national
and California EMF research programs to find out if EMF poses any health
risk. Given the uncertainty of the issue, the medical and scientific
communities have been unable to determine that usual residential exposures
to EMF cause health effects or to establish any standard or level of
exposure that is know to be either safe or harmful.
Magnetic Fields at
Home
(measurements are in milligauss)
1.2"
away
12"
away
39"
away
Microwave Oven
750 to 2,000
40 to 80
3 to 8
Clothes Washer
8 to 400
2 to 30
0.1 to 2
Electric Range
60 to 2,000
4 to 40
0.1 to 1
Fluorescent
Lamp
400 to 4,000
5 to 20
0.1 to 3
Hair Dryer
60 to 20,000
1 to 70
0.1 to 3
Television
25 to 500
0.4 to 20
0.1 to 2
Magnetic Fields
Outside
(utility average)
Distribution Lines
1 to 80 milligauss under
the line
Transmission Lines
1 to 300 milligauss edge
of right-of-way
National,
International and State Scientific Findings
At the completion of a $45 million federal program, a June 1999 final
report to Congress (see http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid)
concluded:
"The
scientific evidence suggesting that EMF exposures pose any health risk
is weak."
"EMF
exposures cannot be recognized as entirely safe because of weak
scientific evidence that exposures may pose a leukemia hazard, but EMF
is not reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen."
In
June 2001, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
evaluated extremely low frequency (3Hz-3kHz) EMF and found:
An
association between childhood leukemia and high residential magnetic
field strengths was judged "limited evidence" for excess
cancer risk in exposed humans.
Evidence
for excess cancer risks of all other kinds, in children and adults, as
a result of exposure to ELF electric and magnetic fields was
considered "inadequate".
In
July 2001 the California Department of Health Services' California EMF
Program released for public comment a 300-page draft risk evaluation that
reviewed the literature related to cancer, reproductive health and other
diseases. A revised document was scheduled for final release in
spring of 2002. The current draft, the comments, and other completed
projects and EMF fact sheets produced by the program can be found at: http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/deodc/ehib/emf
What Can You Do?
The
California EMF Program was initiated by a 1993 decision (D.93-11-013) of
the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and funded by utility
ratepayers. It was scheduled to end in June 2002. Although PWP
is not governed by the CPUC, this decision addressed possible EMF health
effects from electric utility facilities. In a situation of
scientific uncertainty and public concern, the CPUC felt it appropriate
for utilities to take no-cost and low-cost measure where feasible to
reduce EMF exposure from new or upgraded utility facilities. You
too, may want to take no-cost and low-cost measures to reduce your EMF
exposure at home and at work.
Human studies have not produced a consensus about any health benefits from
changing the way people use electric appliances. But, if you fell
reducing your EMF exposure would be beneficial, you can increase your
distance from electric appliances and/or limit the amount of time you use
appliances at home or at work.
For instance, you can place phone answering machine and electric clocks
away from the head of your bed. Increasing your distance from these
and other appliances such as televisions, computer monitors and microwave
ovens can reduce your EMF exposure.
You can also reduce your EMF exposure by limiting the time your spend
using personal appliances such as hair dryers, electric razors, heating
pads and electric blankets. You may also want to limit the time you
spend using electric cooking appliances. You can locate the sources
of EMF in your work environment, and spend break time in lower-field
areas. It is not know whether such actions will have any impact on
your health.
Tree
trimming is done by utilities to protect the electrical power lines.
State law also requires utility companies to maintain specific clearances
(depending on the voltage) between electric lines and all
vegetation. Here are some additional reasons for pruning and
removing trees near high voltage power lines:
