1-3 Strand T: 01926 653 000
London WC2N 5EH
www.nationalgrid.com
T Hoy
EIR team
By email only: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
National Grid House
Warwick Technology Park
Gallows Hill
Warwick
CV34 6DA
xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
8th October 2019
Dear T Hoy,
Request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (“EIR”)
Thank you for your email dated 20th September 2019 requesting information via WhatDoTheyKnow website which sends
the request on to our EIR requests email address.
Information requested
Dear National Grid plc,
I requested information regarding what the rules are for humans living under power lines, what the safest maximum
measurement is for a human being to stand under a live electric power line/cable?
I have not received a response within the agreed period therefore could you please respond as a matter of urgency.
Yours faithfully,
T Hoy
Our response This response has been provided on the basis that the request is regarding the electric and magnetic field (EMF)
emissions from overhead lines, not statutory safety clearances set to protect us against electrocution.
There are no statutory limits on EMFs in the United Kingdom, but Public Health England (formerly the Health Protection
Agency – HPA) recommends guidelines for exposure to EMFs based on guidelines from the International Commission
on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP - 1998), which have been adopted in the UK. The exposure limit for
public exposure is 360 microtesla (T) for power frequency (Extremely Low Frequency - 50Hz) magnetic fields and 9000
volts per metre (V/m) for power frequency electric fields. It is the policy of the electricity industry to follow independent
exposure guidelines and ensure that all of our power lines, even if directly underneath, will comply with the relevant
exposure limits.
Conclusion
If you are in any way unhappy with this response to your request, you may ask for an internal review. Please write to
Julie Labraham (EIR Complaints Officer), in the first instance, at the above address, setting out the reasons why you
believe we have not complied with its requirements with regard to your request.
Regulation 11(2) EIR states that you must send a request for internal review to National Grid no later than 40 working
days after the date of this letter. We will arrange an internal review of your request and we will notify you of its decision
no later than 40 working days following receipt of your complaint.
1-3 Strand T: 01926 653 000
London WC2N 5EH
www.nationalgrid.com
Under EIR, if you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to appeal the decision to the
Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioners Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me on the details at the top of this letter.
Yours sincerely,
EIR team
On behalf of National Grid