Electricity transmission line easement is a safety matter.

Can we ignore it?

A. Zahedi
Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering
Monash University, Clayton Campus, Victoria, 3168, AUSTRALIA, Fax :++61 3 9905 5957
E-Mails: zahedi@eng.monash.edu.au,

Abstract other alternating current sources have a periodic

Power company easements secure a corridor of land or
“right of way” for existing or future lines, and to allow
power company to have access for maintenance and
repair purposes and for safety control measures. The
width of the easement is not simply the width of the
supporting structure. The width allows for the swing of
the wires due to wind, plus a safety clearance.
Wherever electricity is generated, transmitted, or used,
electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are created.
component. The Earth's magnetic field has a magnitude
of about 50T over most of the areas and is oriented
toward magnetic North.
Electromagnetic fields from power lines
Typical power lines are three phase, three wire structures
arranged with horizontal, vertical, or equilateral cross
section.
3m 3m

Electricity has been used, to great advantage, for 100

years without society being aware of any adverse health 3 1 2

effect. The debate over whether electric fields and

magnetic fields can have any effect on human health
began in the 1970's, when Wertheimer and Leeper
reported that children living near power lines had an
15 m
Hight

increased risk for developing cancer. The report resulted

in immediate concern. Since then, many major scientific
studies have been undertaken into the effects of electric
fields and magnetic fields. These studies have looked at a
Ground
wide variety of possible health end-points, including
cancer, reproductive effects, and “stress”. The author of Figure 1
this paper has undertaken an investigation of available The electromagnetic field near any power line is readily
data obtained from current research results related to
calculated from its hight and wire spacing. The complete
these issues to find out, how safe practically are our field of a line of the horizontal type has been calculated
living environments. In addition, some guide lines by King and Wu. [1].
introduced by responsible organizations like WHO and
NHMRC are included for evaluation and comparison
purposes. And also examples are presented where the Electro-magnetic Field Micro Tesla
WHO and NHMRC’s guidelines have been ignored. Distance from 600A, 220kV 1200A, 440kV
Conductor
Introduction number 1 (m)
The magnetic fields associated with power lines (50/60 10 3.56 7.12
Hz)depend on the amount of current flowing along the 20 1.42 3.84
line. The fields decrease rapidly with distance from the 30 0.94 1.88
line. Fields under street lines vary from about 1-35 40 0.46 0.92
milligauss (mG) depending on the amount of current 50 0.102 0.204
flowing. Under High Voltage lines the magnetic fields 100 0.036 0.072
vary typically from about 5 - 300 mG. However by 200 0.0046 0.0092
recommendation, high voltage lines are constructed on 300 0.0014 0.0028
easements where building is not permitted. Table 1 Range of magnetic fields near horizontally
arranged transmission line. Hight = 15 m, Conductors
The Earth also produces EMF. Unlike the fields from spacing = 3 m, I=600A for 220kV line and I=1200A for
power lines and other alternating current sources, the 440kV line
Earth's fields are largely “static”, that is they do not
change over time. In contrast, EMF from power lines and

Who owns the land the easement is on?
Usually ownership of that land remains with the land
holder, who has restricted use of the easement. The
reason for restricting land use is for the safety of land
holders and the community
Who is responsible for the easement?
In general, maintenance of the area covered by the
easement is the responsibility of the land holder, subject
to safety restrictions as is mentioned in this article. On
some properties, access roads and tracks were
constructed specifically to build and maintain the
transmission lines. These tracks belong to the owner of
the land, not to power company. However, power
company retains the right to use these tracks for building
and maintenance. Power company maintains these tracks
to the minimum standard required to preserve vital access
to the line. Figure 2 shows typical easement widths in
meters. Actual easement details may vary from typical
widths.
Figure 2 Actual fields compared to WHO/NHMRC
guidelines - 220 kV transmission line
Activities that can be done on an easement
• Agriculture, market gardens, roadways, bicycle paths
and a range of sporting activities, provided that
ground levels are not changed and structures are not
built. Earthworks and construction activity require
prior power company’s approval
• Scattered trees with a mature growth height not
exceeding 3 metres that do not constitute a fire risk
or restrict power company access
• Parking of vehicles is allowed. Barriers of an
approved design may be required to protect towers
from damage by vehicles
• Use of vehicles, mobile plant or equipment with an
operating height not exceeding 3 metres. Equipment
in excess of 3 metres in height are permitted subject
to available clearances at the particular site involved.
Prior written permission must be obtained from
power company before equipment in excess of 3
metres in height is operated on the easement
• Irrigation equipment are allowed to be used if
detailed plans are approved
• Fences are normally allowed, providing they do not
affect access to the transmission lines, and their
height and type of materials used is approved by
power company
• Utility services, such as low voltage electricity,
telephone and water, are allowed depending on the
clearances to the transmission lines, location and
length of the service on the easement
• Lighting poles may be installed but they need power
company’s approval
• Residential or industrial land subdivisions are
normally allowed, provided power company’s
easement rights are maintained and new boundaries
do not come within specified distances of towers
• Roads are normally allowed, depending on overhead
line clearances and provision of access and adequate
protection of towers
• Excavating, filling and altering of land are allowed
under strict power company’s supervision
• Tennis courts are allowed subject to certain
constraints
Activities that can't be done on an easement
• Houses, other buildings or structures must not be
built, except for certain approved domestic garages,
sheds and carports
• Swimming pools or pool filtration equipment must
not be installed
• Trees in large numbers that could create a fire hazard
or that grow in excess of the approved maximum
height (3 metres maximum) must not be planted
• Flammable liquids or fuels, or anything that will
burn must not be stored
• Flammable liquids or gases from bulk delivery
vehicles within 60 metres of a 500 kV transmission
line must not be handled
• Vehicles must not be repaired
• Explosives are not allowed to be stored
• Garbage, timber or stockpile excavated materials
must not be stored
• Large commercial vehicles or caravans are not
allowed to be parked
• The load of large commercial vehicles in excess of 3
metres in height without power company’s approval
must not be loaded, unloaded or adjusted
• Plant and equipment in excess of 3 metres in height
without power company’s approval must not be
operated
• Large spray irrigators, i.e. high pressure gun or
boom types are not allowed to be operated
• Fences without power company’s approval are not
allowed to be built
• Kites or model aircraft controlled by wires within 45
metres of the lines are not allowed to be used
• Metallic pipes (including reinforced concrete),
electric power cables or other conductive services
within 30 metres of any 500 kV tower or within 20
metres of any 230 kV tower must not be laid
• Excavation within 25 metres of a tower without
written approval is not allowed

Risk of living in a close proximity to the power lines

When human is in a close proximity to the power lines
there is capacitive coupling between the body and the
lines. This coupling enables induction of the voltage on
the body. The induced voltage depends on the Figure 2b
capacitivity of the coupling and the characteristics of the
line. This capacity can be estimated as: C=εA/d, where ε
-12
is dielectric constant of the air (ε=8.85x10 F/m), A is Who is responsible for the health of people working
2 or living in the environment shown in Figures 2a and
area of "capacitor" plates in m while d is distance
2b.
between capacitor plates in metre (m).
If these properties have been built after erection of power
2 line towers, then they have to be removed. In the case
For example if one m of a body is coupled to the power that the facilities and homes were already there by the
lines 1 m away (reasonable circumstances) then the time of installation of towers thus utility is responsible
-12
capacitance between them is about: C = 8.85x10 F/m x for this mess.
2
1 m / 1 m = 8.85 pF.
Magnetic Field Risk Distance Risk
Ratio Ratio Conclusions
The primary concern is for everyone's safety. All it really
< or = 0.9 µT (0.9 > or = 101
takes is common sense and not too much effort. If we
mG) 1 m 1
want to carry out any development, whether or not
> 0.1 µT (1 mG) 51 m - 100 requires approval, we have to check with the power
and 4.3 m 1.1 company involved to see if the easement will be a
< or = 0.19 µT constraint. We will need written approval from power
(1.9 mG) company before commencing work, as a local council
> 0.2 µT (2 mG) < or = 50 building permit is not sufficient authority. Failure to
5.3 m 2.9 obtain a power company approval may result in having to
Table 2 Risk ratio occurance of leukemia near 220 kV remove or modify the new work. So we have to check
power lines, [1], [2], (1mG = 0.1 µ T) with power company first.
Usually stray capacitance is about 1 - 10 pF but it vary
widely with patient location and proximity to power lines
and hardware. References
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electromagnetic field of a three phase transmission
line over the earth and its interaction with the human
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2. Lerner E.J., “Biological effects of electromagnetic
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and magnetic fields Australian Radiation Health
Figure 2a
 series, no. 30 Australian Radiation Laboratory,
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