The commenter reports effects attributed to nearby power lines, proposes alternative wiring and grounding…

I became aware of electromagnetic fields after living over 10 years within 100 feet of a neighborhood power line and measuring exposures with a gaussmeter. These fields negatively impact mood, energy, sleep quality, skin health (increased redness and decreased elasticity), and hair health (increased dryness and thinning.) Radio frequencies typically produce similar effects. Electric distribution infrastructure produces multiple forms of electromagnetic fields, some of which can extend hundreds of feet and enter homes. These fields can be substantially reduced or eliminated through established engineering alternatives. According to EPRI, arranging conductors (wires) in a compact-delta (triangular) configuration reduces magnetic field emissions by 60–90%.[1] This avoids the higher cost of under-grounding. Utility companies should not be allowed to use multi-grounded four-wire systems because these can produce ground currents that spread laterally through the earth for hundreds of feet. Many countries do not allow such systems. Alternatives include uni-wye, delta, or five-wire systems. According to a 1998 report to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, artificial electromagnetic exposures create "internal electric fields" and potentially decrease concentrations of dopamine and serotonin.[2] The Cleveland Clinic lists health factors affected by serotonin, including focus, emotional stability, relaxation, and bone density.[3] Anyone living or walking within a few hundred feet of utility infrastructure is potentially affected by the resulting emissions. A Health Officer for California's Santa Cruz County noted in 2012 that the utility neutral bonded to water pipes causes adverse electromagnetic exposure.[4] In addition to the biological impacts of multi-grounded four-wire systems, the earth has exponentially higher resistance than metal conductors,[5] so using the earth as a conductor is energy inefficient and creates energy losses, causing additional costs for ratepayers and higher profits for utility companies. Utility smart meters contain antennas that generate radio-frequency emissions on connected wiring and in neighborhoods. Smart-meter deployment can involve costs of billions of dollars. According to IEEE member Tim Schoechle, utility smart meters have little to no demonstrable benefit to society.[6] In 2011, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan described legislation promoting smart meters as an attempt by utility companies to "protect their revenues for the next decade at great expense to consumers..."[7] Similar critiques of smart meters were made by Connecticut's Attorney General in 2011,[8] and Michigan's Attorney General in 2013.[9] Smart meters contain "hazardous materials" according to the International Electrotechnical Commission.[10] Smart meters use rare earth elements that raise financial costs, increase demand for scarce materials, and create environmental and disposal challenges. The International Electrotechnical Commission notes, "With traditional electromechanical designs and life spans of several decades, use of hazardous materials and safe disposal of decommissioned meters is not an issue." I appreciate the Department of Health and Human Services is addressing these issues. Please contact LinLinHanGou@gmail.com for additional information. [1] https://restservice.epri.com/publicdownload/TR-106003/0/Product [2] https://mn.gov/puc/assets/dairy_cow_response_final_report_tcm14-12009.pdf [3] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22572-serotonin [4] http://emfsafetynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Health-Risks-Associated-With-SmartMeters.pdf [5] https://ep2000.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/EP-White-Paper-System-Ground.pdf [6] https://gettingsmarteraboutthesmartgrid.org/pdf/Smart%20Grid%20Report%203-15-13.pdf [7] https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/06/21/an-experiment-too-expensive-for-consumers/ [8] https://smartgridlegalnews.lexblogplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/517/2011/02/ConnAG_brief.pdf [9] https://www.annarbor.com/DTE-SMART-METERS_ATTORNEY-GENERAL-OPINION.pdf [10] https://www.iec.ch/public/miscfiles/sbp/13.pdf