Living next to electrical equipment
Sometimes customers are concerned about living close to electrical equipment and the Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) generated by them. We’ve provided some helpful resources that answer the most common questions we are asked, which may help to address any concerns you have.
They live next to a substation
They have overhead power lines or poles on their land
Is living next to an electricity substation safe?
Electricity substations don’t produce a significant external electric field but they do produce a magnetic field. This is measured in microtesla (µT).
The field levels at the boundary of a substation are typically around one to two microtesla (µT) and this decreases very quickly as you move away. At one or two meters from the substation, the magnetic field will usually be lower than the field found inside your home.
You can watch a video produced by National Grid featuring Dr Hayley Tripp, a Senior Environmental Engineer, explaining the levels of magnetic fields, around substations.
Is living near overhead power lines safe?
EMF from overhead lines is well below the UK exposure limits and decreases rapidly over distance. For our largest (132kV) overhead lines, these return to background levels 30-40 metres away from the line.
In this video produced by National Grid, Dr Hayley Trip explains the levels of electric and magnetic fields near power lines.
Further help and information
Further information about EMF around our equipment can be found in our EMF leaflet and on the EMFs.info website.
Download 'The Facts' - a PDF document about electric and magnetic fields produced by the Energy Networks Association.
Selling your home? It maybe useful to know that the equipment we are responsible for in the UK (known as Distribution Network Operator equipment - 132kV and below) is built to comply with the code of practice, as shown in the Statement of compliance with public exposure limits.
You can also get further help and advice by contacting the electricity industry's EMF Unit Public Information line (UK only):
Tel: 0845 7023270 or 01926 653382
Email: EMFHelpline@nationalgrid.com