Substation Frequently Asked Questions

Power grids must evolve to support today's changing energy needs. Substations are at the forefront of this evolution and it is time for utilities to take action.

Substation Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a distribution substation?

A: A distribution substation is a facility in the distribution system that is a key part of the electricity system including generation, transmission, and distribution. A distribution substation usually changes the voltage from high to low so that it can be distributed along with overhead or underground power lines before being delivered to the customer. Sub-stations include transformers, switchgear control equipment, and system protection to transmit power to the distribution lines.

Q: What are the benefits of a substation?

A: A new substation means that as your area continues to grow and the demand for electricity increases, you will have the assurance of continued power quality and reliability. Substation and power line overloads are more frequent failures and power quality issues such as flicker and dropouts can occur during peak conditions.

 ZBW Type Prefabricated Substation

Q: Is there sound from the substation?

A: The main noise heard from the substation is the humming of the transformers. This hum is the same type of hum as most other transformers or street lights on street corners, it just gets louder as the transformer gets bigger. Modern substation transformers are quieter than those built just a few years ago - the equivalent transformer noise is typically 10 decibels (dB) lower due to recent advances.

Q: What are the health risks of living near a substation?

A: Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are invisible fields that surround all electrical equipment and power lines. Electric fields exist anywhere we live or work. Any electrical wire or appliance emits both electric and magnetic fields, which combine to create EMFs. all electrical equipment, from toasters to high voltage power lines, is surrounded by EMFs. These fields drop off rapidly with distance from the source.

There are conflicting studies on whether EMFs affect human health. Over the past thirty years, hundreds of scientific studies have been conducted worldwide to answer the question "Does exposure to EMFs have harmful health effects? This question has been asked. These studies have used a variety of methods to explore the potential health effects of EMFs. The scientific evidence does not support a causal relationship between EMF exposure and health risks.

Most of people's EMF exposure comes from electrical wires along streets and in homes. People also get high field exposures for a short period of time when they are near electrical appliances (.  Outside the home, people can experience EMFs through mobile phones, schools, industrial warehouses, offices, electric vehicles, etc.

In terms of power systems, high-voltage power lines generate higher field strengths than substations. In general, not many people live within 100 yards of a high-voltage power line. More people live near one or another substation, but even if you live very close, the level of exposure is minimal. Gauss meters measure the EMF levels of electronic equipment and devices. The unit of measurement for Gauss meters is called the milliGauss, abbreviated as mG. Gauss is technically a "unit of magnetic flux density".

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