Living Near Power Lines: Is it Dangerous to Your Health?

Published 8/28/09 (Modified 6/17/11)
By MoneyBlueBook

The Internet is quite a mixed bag of information - a wild, wild west cornucopia of unfiltered and unadulterated questions and answers. Among the nuggets of knowledge, there's an endless supply of trashy material and unsubstantiated half truths. For every debatable issue imaginable, there are legions of supporters and oppositions on both sides of the divide. Search engines like Google and Bing do nothing to segregate the legitimate articles from the biased quackery and it's often up to the readers themselves to differentiate fact from fiction. Such is the case with a very contentious and controversial issue of mine that's literally hitting close to home - the issue of living next to power lines and whether they have any negative impact on one's health.

From the various articles available online, you'll frequently read comments and posts from individuals claiming that their personal cancers and miscarriages were the direct results of living too close to nearby power lines. Though when subjected to scientific scrutiny, this does not necessarily indicate a definitive connection between the two, it's easy to see how the passionate and emotional voices could come to such conclusions. In my case, both of my parents are survivors of lymphoma cancer. Both of them successfully completed their chemotherapy treatments and both were able to cure themselves of the cancers that plagued their bodies for months. However, as far as I know - they and I have never lived in close proximity to power lines of any sort. However, if we hypothetically had, I'm sure I would have immediately jumped to such emotional conclusions as well and pointed to power lines as the leading cause of the cancers. As I examine this controversial issue, it's important to bear in mind that when it comes to such ubiquitous and misunderstood issues as the effects of electromagnetic fields from power lines,people's reactions may frequently be driven more by emotion and passion than by reason and true evidence.

Find the right credit card for you

0% Balance Transfer

Cash Back Credit Cards

0% Balance Transfer No Fee

I'm Buying A Dream House: But It's Located Near Electrical Power Lines

After years of renting, I'm finally in the process of buying my first home. At the conclusion of months of tireless searching and countless weekdays and weekends of visiting open houses and housing prospects, I've finally found the perfect starter home in the perfect location. It's a beautiful single family house -�� a brand spanking new construction home in a very desirable location near major transportation routes with excellent accessibility to stores and close proximity to places I need to be on a regular basis. But there's a problem, and a big problem at that depending on how you look at it. The prospective new construction lot I'm looking at is located somewhat near a string of power lines and within viewing proximity of several gigantic power line towers. To be precise, the constructed home would be located approximately 350 yards (1050 feet or 320 meters) from the nearest high voltage powerline.

The first time I drove through the newly minted housing development - I instantly fell in love. But after I saw the looming power lines in the distance, I began to have second doubts. Aside from the unsightly nature of the looming eye sores, I had mild qualms about the safety and health hazards of living in such relative close proximity to the gargantuan steel structures and high tension wires. After all, I was brought up by my parents and shaped by the mainstream media and social norms to naturally believe in certain things - such assorted health based beliefs like - microwave ovens emanate hazardous radiation waves, smoking causes cancer, Tylenol damages your liver, immunizing your child may lead to him or her developing autism, diet coke causes cancer, red meat is unhealthy, eating too much fish can lead to mercury poisoning, too much egg yolk will kill you, and finally - prolonged exposure to high tension powerlines can cause leukemia in children and lead to other cancers and Alzheimer type afflictions in adults.

But instead of taking such beliefs at face value this time around, and probably because the home and the neighborhood otherwise satisfied almost every other factor on my check list, I decided to investigate the power line health issue in greater depth. What I discovered was rather troubling - but not for the reasons you might think. After hours and days of research and pouring over numerous governmental issued reports on powerlines and research articles on the alleged connection between power line generated radiation and cancer in humans, I've come to the overwhelming conclusion that there is simply insufficient evidence at this time to establish a causal link between the two. Despite my own hard conclusions based on existing data, concrete facts, and actual measurements conducted by invited powerline company personnel of the suspected area, I don't think a consensus on this controversial issue will ever fully be reached by all people. It seems that for every scientific study which appears to conclusively link power lines to various health issues, there's another prominent health study which conclusively refutes it. Despite the fact that the "scientific research reports" that allege a real causal link between power line electro-magnetic field radiation and cancer afflictions only comprise about 10-20% of the total research, and a dominant 80% or so (based on my very rough fuzzy math estimates) refute a definitive link between the two, the "yes it causes cancer" crowd seems to win out in most debates, drowning out the rest - presumably through their ability to sway opinions through the use of emotional rhetoric and scare tactics.

Is It Safe To Live Near Power Lines? Does EMF Radiation From PowerLines Cause Cancer?

Power lines frequently generate intense opposition and heated protest - from homeowners to environmentalists - from power company authorities to even bloggers like yours truly. The responses are frequently conflicting and emotionally heated. The debate stems from the powerful but invisible electro-magnetic fields (EMF) generated by power lines as electricity is transmitted through them. Some say the magnetic waves corrupt DNA structures and contribute to the development of various cancers. Although these electrical magnetic fields are also generated by common house hold appliances such as TV's, alarm clocks, cell phones, hair blow dryers, computers, can openers, and electric blankets, much of this debate tends to focus exclusively on high tension power lines and the gigantic pylon towers that support them in certain neighborhoods.

While it's nearly impossible for me to discuss the entire scientific bases for the various conclusions out there, suffice it is to say - once you are able to discard the hype and hysteria, the general consensus by the most reputable sources do strongly suggest that currently, there is insufficient evidence to make the quantum leap that magnetic fields from power lines have the capacity to cause childhood leukemia, childhood brain tumors, or other cancers in children - and that presently, there is totally inadequate and inconsistent evidence to establish a relationship between power line fields and breast cancer or other forms of brain tumors in adults. This is not to suggest there is absolutely no possibility of a casual link between the two, but that the realm of verifiable data and research can not yet scientifically link the two as cause and effect.

Extensive research has been performed on the issue and major health organizations such as the National Cancer Institute, the National Research Council, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) -�� have all performed studies and looked at the available research - and opined that there is not conclusive evidence that EMF exposure poses a cancerous risk or that�� residence near high voltage lines increases health risks. Authorities such as the NIH have noted that the available research, despite all of the inflammatory passions involved, fail to demonstrate that the levels of risk represent a real increase in cancer occurrences. Furthermore, such public health authorities have criticized the inflammatory research out there that report a causation link between powerline exposure and cancer, citing possible pervasive study biases stemming from the faulty selection of study subjects and failures to take into consideration other contributing factors such as poverty, nutrition, obesity, pure chance, and sample sizes based on volunteered opinions alone. Despite these authoritative findings, public hysteria will likely always remain - it's just the infallibility of human nature.

New conflicting reports and absolutely contradicting updates by the media and various vested interests on both sides of the divide are constantly being disseminated every year on the supposed dangers of power lines, perpetually shaping the public's emotional perception of the issue. However, if you really want to listen to the most authoritative voices on cancer research regarding EMF radiation fields, powerlines, and their effects on human children and adults, try reading the following online articles. Please let me know if there are any more authoritative sources on the matter:

Electric and Magnetic Fields: National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences
Health Risks Associated With Living Near High Voltage Power Lines: Health Physics Society (July 2008)
Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF): Health Concerns: Connecticut Department of Public Health (April 2008)
Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) Radiation From Power Lines: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (May 2006)
Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health: World Health Organization (May 2006)
Magnetic Fields Exposure and Cancer: Questions and Answers: National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) (April 2005)
Electromagnetic Fields Explained: Arizona Association of Realtors (2003)
Power Line Fields and Public Health: American Physical Society (1995)

Effect Of Home's Proximity To Power Lines On Future Resale Value

Admittedly, regardless of the scientific research, people will always be scared of power lines. No matter what the government or health authorities tell the masses, and no matter what little concrete correlation there is with power lines and EMF induced cancers, it's a virtual given that a vocal segment of the population will never be swayed and will forever regard power lines as instant cancer-causing implementations of electrical doom (laced with extra helpings of government cover ups). For property owners and real estate agents, this is what we call an unfortunate, but irremediable defect - something objectionable about a property that cannot be readily changed. Similar unchangeable defects would be living near railroad tracks, living near an expressway, or living within smelling distance of a waste treatment plant.

While it's true that location in somewhat close proximity to power lines will diminish the overall buyer pool of individuals who would consider your home as a viable purchase (possibly turning off families with very small children perhaps), its desirably is also greatly influenced by other location factors as well. While there may not be a significant drop in property value in certain otherwise very desirable neighborhoods, there may be fewer buyers who will be willing to buy the house when you decide to resell it. Some may be paranoid of the potential health hazards, while others simply won't be able to live with the prospect of having ugly power line towers as permanent ornaments of their neighborhood landscape. While obviously there will always remain an active market for these types of homes, some have suggested that the houses and condos located in close proximity to power lines and power line towers should expect a 1-2% price hit, while others have suggested higher discounts up to 5% or more. However, in my personal research of price comparables in various housing neighborhoods located near powerlines that I've sought out, I haven't found that to be the case.

Remember, everyone has a price. While off the cusp, I'm sure everyone will say that they would never purchase a home near a power line - if they were offered the opportunity to purchase a sprawling mansion for half the price of other comparable homes in the area, I'm sure they would feel differently. The fact that there are homes located near graveyards, cemeteries, nuclear power plants, prisons, and heavily trafficked highways show that everyone has a price. It just depends on how accurately a property's price reflects all of the variables.

Would I Personally Buy A House Located Near Power Lines?

Yes, I would - assuming the home was properly priced, not located directly underneath the power lines, was not directly within view from the front or back of the home, and was sufficiently far enough to satisfy my own whims of prudent avoidance. In fact, I am currently faced with that decision right now, and I believe the answer is a resounding - yes. In the spirit of prudent avoidance, it also depends on how far the home is in relation to the nearest powerline pylon tower and proximately to the powerlines themselves. If my property or backyard directly touched the power line towers or if they ominously loomed over my property like hulking giants, that in of itself would probably be a deal killer for me.

While I personally believe the EMF health dangers of powerlines to be overblown and vastly exaggerated, I think it's still wise to exercise a reasonable dose of paranoid caution. While I believe the direct connection between powerline EMF waves are extremely tenuous and not proven by available science, I still think it's best to limit the distance between powerlines and one's home - just in case. Once again, this is simply prudent avoidance - as the possible dangers, no matter how miniscule or conceivably great, are so potentially devastating if ever found to be true. Besides, from a purely aesthetic point of view, who wants to stare at one of those ugly power line towers from either the front or back yard anyway? I think if the lines are only mere steps from you home or literally sitting in your backyard, this may be a concern. But if they are sufficiently far away in the distance, I think any potential health concerns would be greatly diminished.

So how close is it too close to be living near high tension power lines? Many power line researchers have pointed out that there is generally no serious cause for concern for homes located at least 300 feet away (roughly the length of a football field) from the nearest power line as EMF levels decrease rapidly and exponentially with distance from the lines. At this distance, the EMF levels from the lines are no different from the typical background levels found in most homes. If you are not certain about the EMF levels in or around your home, it's best to contact your local power company and request an EMF reading. Many power companies will perform an EMF measurement for free, particularly if you are a prospective home buyer interested in a new housing development.

Just to get the opinion of readers, what do you think of the photographer's proximity to the nearest power lines based on the photograph provided directly above? This is the approximate location of the housing lot I am currently considering as a prospective home buyer. The nearest power lines are about 350 yards away (more than 3 football lengths). In the photo provided, they perhaps appear larger than they ought to primarily because they are located on the top of a hill on a higher elevation, and there are no trees yet planted to obscure them as is usually the case in established old communities with power lines. Far enough to be objectively safe or still close enough to cause fear? What do you think?

This entry was posted on 8/28/09 (Modified on 6/17/11) and is filed under Health , Issues , Life , Real Estate and Housing . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response.

Disclaimer: Discover is a paid advertiser of this site.
Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the Discover online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards.

Feed for this Entry

78 Responses to “Living Near Power Lines | EMF Radiation | Money Blue Book”

Marigold says:
November 11, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Wow, Richard.
Go for it. However, if you feel the need to be insulting to people who are concerned for their health and well-being...you should probably hit spell check...hysterical is spelled with a "Y"....
Good luck...I think that you are the crazy one to take such a risk with your family. Yeah...we are exposed to solar flares and an outright lying government and other powers around the world who are not acting on behalf of the good of the earth's inhabitants.
Who is to say that you clicked the right buttons?
It's a slippery slope my friend...you might want to click a few different buttons...seems you hit the jackpot...the buttons that work in your favor and those who do and will hide the truth from consumers only to benefit their own greedy cause. Your ignorance is really what clicks my buttons...people like you who run with the herd.,..the flock...just like "they" want you to....
B-aaaaaa
GT says:
November 12, 2010 at 3:16 am
For Jenny J:
Sorry, I perhaps too late, your message dated later in September. If by a chance you still need that information - yes, from a good picture with details I can tell with the high probability what voltage of a power line. However, just knowing voltage is not enough. It's enough for basic idea what to expect. More details depends of power of the power line and design and power stream design.
Regards,
GT
GT says:
November 12, 2010 at 3:22 am
For Jenny J:
said above is only about power lines - not cell phone towers.
Mimi says:
November 19, 2010 at 3:17 pm
All of the info here has been so interesting to me. I grew up in a house (19 years) that was quite near power line towers. When you walked near them, the humming was so loud you thought your head might explode. I didn't think much of it as a kid, probably because I really didn't understand.

But now as an adult, I have often wondered if the health problems in my family were caused from the exposure. My sister died at 39 of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (that means an enlarged and hard heart). The coroner and the many cardiologists we spoke to were stunned. This usually only happens to the elderly. My mother has fought off non-Hodgkins 3 times now. And I myself am currently house ridden with adrenals that are almost at the failure stage. None of my hormones are working, and at 45, I basically feel like crap all the time. I can't over-exert myself or I may have a heart attack.

It's been years since any of us have lived in that house near the power lines, but I have often wondered if the constant exposure led to any our ailments. Sure I realize that they could have been a multitude of things, or nothing at all, but it sure doesn't keep you from wondering.

Some folks say the EMF's mean nothing and others say run for you life. On a more simplistic level I begin to side with the folks who claim danger. Only because I don't believe our Maker intended on our bodies to be assaulted the way they are. And as basic as that may sound, it may just be the right answer. We humans do have a tendency to make everything more difficult than it needs to be. Perhaps the answer is just that easy.
GT says:
November 19, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Sorry to hear it, Mimi. Even without going deep into technical stuff we can rely, I think, on what is "normal" (in usual environment, without much artificial influence) and whatever is out of regular normal level is not good. At least if we talk about EMF. Our Maker created us, but He did not created power lines above our heads - this is human invention. The issues is - money.
--
MEPHISTOPHELES
...
The base monster insults Heaven!
He looks down, ? O strange madness! ?
On the human race at his feet
Sallying forth, sword in hand,
Through blood and filth,
Where the burning metal is shining!
And Satan leads the dance!

ALL
And Satan leads the dance!
...

Can you imagine how much money involved in increasing right-of-way zone size and EMF level standards? Well, for economy grow we need power. Somebody who make decisions maybe thinks that killing a few thousands of us is not big loss in big scale if it will improve life for other even more thousands... Personally I do not think this is right. Bright and happy life cannot be built on somebody's pain.
claire says:
November 20, 2010 at 3:06 pm
My husband, children and I have lived within 100m of large pylons for 15 years - in beautiful countryside and in a lovely home. We have been happy, healthy and comfortable throughout. We do not hear buzzing, and we do not feel tired and depressed. We had readings taken before buying the property and were reassured to know that the levels were higher in the home (from alarms, fridge, etc) than on the boundary of the property nearest to the lines.
I hope that those of you benefiting from price reductions on great properties (that we will suffer from when we eventually move) will really enjoy your homes as we have. And to those of you creating fear and panic, I wonder how many of you use mobile phones, drink alcohol, drive cars, or God forbid, even get out of bed in the morning. Millions of dollars, pounds, euros, have been spent on research into the potential dangers of pylons and electricity cables and so far there is no conclusive evidence either way. So stop worrying, live where you choose, but please, don't create fear and panic based on hearsay or fiction.
Claire
Gregory says:
November 24, 2010 at 4:52 pm
I'm taking power plant technology classes, and have had to do research concerning power lines and EHV's (Ultra-high Voltage lines), HVDC's (high Voltage Direct Current), and other forms of power transmission. I even had to do research on what EMF can do to humans/wildlife. Much like this gentleman whom provided us a nice report. I have found no conclusive evidence of health issues between that of power lines and humans. I did find that raptors tend to have a problem with them. They like to roost or even nest on power poles/towers. This is a major health issue since they could easily be electrocuted (many already have). Power companies have already been addressing this very issue with very good success. They design the poles/towers in a way that raptors don't care to land on them. They also put up roosting deterants (rods staning straight up, or a cross member that makes the landing area uneven).
.
Asside from that, I also have had to research on how reliable our power grid is going to be into the future. This did not look good, based on the recent increased rate of demand for power, and the lack of ability to transmit power from the power plants to the places of demand. We will be looking at brownages and power outages. The higher the voltage on a given conductor the less power losses there is. This is why power companies have been increasing the voltages over the years. The other main problem is NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard). Because some people are good at putting up a arguement, they can convince others that such BIG and IMPOSING things MUST be DANGEROUS. They are, just read about how someone might try climbing one for fun, or have some equipment touch it because they were not paying attention only to get electricuted.
.
As far as the EMF goes, there is proof that getting the fequency upto 850htz or more that it can effect biolgical tissue (not really clear as to what danger though). Transmission lines run between 50htz (Europe) to 60htz (USA). In our household power is run at 110/220 volts (USA) and at 220/440 volts (Europe). This is well below danger limit. Not to mention if there was a real danger of having housing close to power lines it wouldn't happen anymore. Power lines would have been moved or towns would have been moved to protect people. With so much money invested in researching (both ways) on cause and effect of power lines I garantee that somewhere someone would have found a viable link connecting power lines and heath issues with humans or animals.
.
I read in a earlier posting that someone had a series of illnesses and listed some of the symtoms, (I had similar symtoms with my family I found out that my family was recieving Radon poisening). By moving out of the house you in effect removed your family out of danger.
.
Here is another thought for you guys in cyber world. We have hundreds to thousands of personal working around and even on equipment with voltages reaching as high as 1500 kV (that's 1.5 Million volts) for all of their lives and yet they don't seem to have any health issues. I don't have any health issues. (other than my stitches that I recieved from having a wrench hit my head). In fact insurance tends to be cheaper with guys in my field. (Insurance companies tend to charge more for people working in hazardous conditions)
.
I would love to hear thoughts about this
Allyson says:
November 28, 2010 at 10:46 am
Can someone please explain the difference between these high voltage silver towers (pictured) and the wooden posts with four lines running between them? My husband and I are looking at a piece of property that has the wooden poles with power lines running along the back of it. Is there a difference in these types of lines from the big silver towers? Would so appreciate any input. Thanks!
GT says:
November 30, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Where are the pictures?
John says:
December 7, 2010 at 5:08 am
Interesting blog that I stubbled on after moving to Italy and found myself living 200-300ft from large powerlines. I fell much better about the situation after reading this blog and realize almost all of the scare is unsupported by real studies and research. Common sense prevails in this case and if it were a real danger I don't believe we'd still be building homes so close to powerlines. Conspiracy theorist will always come up with some crazy notion that the "Big Power Industry" or the Government are hiding the facts. Patty above is a typical nut case in the liberal community that bases everything on emotion and not on concrete evidence. Its probably true that exposing yourself to high levels on EMF over years is not good for you but I don't think EMF levels off powerlines are that high compared to other everyday exposures. There are many other things that could have caused her illnesses. I live in Naples, Italy and there are serious environmental issues of concern that I've learned about that are causing health issues here. Heavy metal contamination in ground water, highly toxic soil from illegal trash dumping and serious air pollution. The US Navy requires all residents to have ground water and soil testing, and an environmental inspector to certify a home before authorizing occupancy in town. We cannot eat local grown food or brush our teeth with the local water...now that's scary. That was after a US Navy's environmental study 5 years ago. They're very serious about it and have moved 100's of families. On the military base they have large powerlines running through the housing area, with literally hundreds of kids living there, the Child Development Center is almost directly under the powerlines. I really think they have the health of their residents in mind and if it were a cause of concern they would address it. Patty did you ever test your soil with core samples, check for radon, do water samples etc.... When you say things like "You'll have a baby with 3 heads", you loose all credibility and will be looked at like a nut job. My wife is a Physician and has been delivering babies for years, I have news she's never seen a baby with 3 heads. She is pregnant and our room is 200-300ft from powerlines and she has no concerns. So far all ultasounds show a perfectly healthy baby with one head. We have a 3 yr old and 18 month living here too. We are all is fantastic health.
To everyone, don't jump to conclusions, know what you're buying, get the facts and do testing if concerned. In the future I will always have soil samples and water samples done before buying a home after what I've seen here in Naples, Italy, and the ground water lawsuit in Camp LeJuene, NC that affected many families in the USMC. Good luck and remember most people have an agenda. The liberal communities is pretty obvious most of the time.
spottedzebra says:
December 30, 2010 at 8:23 am
How are you enjoying your house Raymond?
pariah says:
January 4, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Oh yeah but I have a friend who told me that his uncle's best friend told him that power lines weren't safe at all. His best friend is a retired circus clown so he knows what he's talking about as he has been around hire-wire acts almost his whole life.
Lynne says:
January 17, 2011 at 8:32 pm
We are looking for a home and found what could be the one... yet, only 20 feet away are the dreaded power lines. It is unsightly but the house has darn near everything we are looking for. I was wondering if the EMF effects video appliances... ??
SEan says:
January 23, 2011 at 4:30 pm
I lived next to power lines for the majority of my life. No Cancer, no one one in my family had cancer except an uncle who was ironically an electrician, and a chronic smoker(SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY CAUSES CANCER!). I have never had short term or long term heath problems, neither has my brother, father or mother. My wife an I just bid on a beautiful house in the same area, with the same powerlines. Conspiracy theories seem to be a new kind of religion these days. Try science people! Don't trust the internet too much either, it passes on conspiracies too easily. I would check government agencies and universities where studies have been conducted to get actionable information. As for real estate resale, that is another matter. I'm sure it has an effect on potential buyers. Then again some people prefer to drive rather than fly because of Al Qaeda. They're more afraid of Bin Laden's Minions rather than a drunk 20 year frat boy on a wet road at midnight!
Marka says:
March 9, 2011 at 3:02 am
Raymond, if you were my lawyer, I could prove God's existence! That was the best knowledge I have received from the internet so far in my life. Thank-you! (The piano restoration company from England rates right up there!)
Abdul Salam says:
October 20, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Greetings,,I got some informations about device that measures the amount of EMF ,,I think it is better to have this device and to check the amount of EMF near and far away from power lines..I dont have enough information about this device ,, and I am interested to get same as I wish to start building my house that is located 140 meters away from 400KV power lines..any one can advise me. many thanks
Angela says:
October 18, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Im so happy I came across this site! My husband and I have currently bought a house near a 500kv line. At first I didn't think much about it but now that I'm hearing so much from friends it has me concerned. My husband works for PG&E (power company) and he is also a little worried. The house is currenty being built now and is about 350ft away from the back of our house. The tower is located on a farm across the way but can be seen from the back of our house. I have two children under 5 and just a little worried about this. I have pictures but not sure how to post them here. Any help would be great. Like what is a safe emf reading for a house near a power line and I also heard of Emf protection devices? Any info on that? Thanks for your help.
Basia says:
December 19, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Not everyone who smokes develops lung cancer either, but if you smoke you are at risk for developing lung cancer. There is plenty of scientific evidence that shows correlation between smoking and cancer. Do i want to take the risk? Hell,No. The is plenty of evidence that electric power line are risk for developing CA as well. I suggest you go to CDC.gov and read about it.
Sarah says:
March 5, 2013 at 9:32 pm
I think that there is a lot of hysteria associated with power lines.. and at the end of the day with the amount of technology we use on a day to day basis, I seriously don't think we can isolate power lines as being them main cause for cancer.. mobiles.. microwaves.. laptops.. everything in our day to day lives is a potential radioactive hazard.
Jackie Mudd says:
May 5, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Hello, Judging by the beautiful picture, if I had the chance to purchase it no matter what the costs.... I WOULD DO IT!!!!! I'm concerned about the same thing right now. Looked at 5 acres of land with two power lines right across the property! I've read that if you were 500 meters away... too close!!!! But,if you build 200 feet away, you'd be safe from it all. Normally 15 feet off the ground is where they should be standing. I'm trying to figure out a price to offer. They are wanting $45.000 for 5 acres. I will have to pay $2500.00 fo a water meter, and the left corner of the property has been cut off 800 feet from another property having a barn!!! Deep hole in front of property is where I'm putting my pond. The house will be built behind the pond. But, there is two power lines on the side looking at me. So, now I have no idea of what to do? My husband does not want to live near power lines because of all the un-proven documentation he has read in papers and hear-say. But, if I can figure out a way to talk him into it, that would be great!!!! Good luck with your future endeavours. (spelled right?) Can you give me any help??? What do you think of a price offer of $30.000?