The FAQ page is your complete guide to understanding power-line noise and what you can do to work with the ARRL and FCC under the cooperative program set up to resolve power-line noise cases. The FAQ helps you through the process of filing a complaint with your electric utility and explains what steps you can take prior to your contacting ARRL for help. All amateurs with power line noise problems should start with the FAQ page and follow the steps set up by the ARRL and FCC to efficiently handle power-line noise interference complaints.  If reasonable efforts have been made to try to resolve interference directly with the power companny and it is not able to correct your noise, read the FAQs and applicable articles, then contact the ARRL for help, providing the information that the FAQ says is needed for ARRL to work on the case.
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Power lines in Amateur Radio news

• FCC Issues Two Citations in Longstanding Power Line Noise Case
  ARRL Web
• FCC Cites Florida Utility for Interference to Radio Amateur
  ARRL Web
• FCC to Get Tough on Offending Power Companies
  ARRL Web, July 26, 2002
• ARRL Headquarters to Host Power-Line Interfrence Workshop
  ARRL Web, June 13, 2002

Tutorials and case histories

• Transmission & Distribution World Magazine
  provides practical information and insight toward A Smarter Approach to Resolving Power-Line Noise. T&D Magazine is edited for engineers and operating professionals in the electric power industry. Expanded from this article with additional information is The Issue of Power-Line Noise A Smarter Approach.This expanded article covers all aspects of how best to handle and resolve a power-line noise complaint.
• Locate And Fix Power-Line Interference
  QST December 2001, pp. 68-69
  Technical Correspondence from Gene Preston, K5GP
• How the FCC can Help with Power-Line Interference
• Basic Steps Toward Tracing and Eliminating Power-Line Interference
  QST November 1991, pp. 43-46
• Power-Line Noise Mitigation Handbook for Naval and Other Receiving Sites
  This is a comprehensive manual that describes how to understand, locate and correct power line noise.  A must for every utility or RFI troubleshooter.
• Cornering That Buzzing Interference
  QST March 1924, pp. 34-35
  An early power line noise tracking experience from the earliest days.
• Power Line Noise Hunting
  Gary's, N8DMT, account of tracking down bad power line poles
  

Build equipment to help locate power line noise

• Adapting a Three Element Tape Measure Beam for Power Line Noise Hunting
  QST, May 2007, p 28
  Provides construction details on a low cost and easy to build antenna for locating power line noise.  This versatile antenna project can be adapted for a variety of frequencies and receivers.
• Attenuators can be essential for RDFing power line noise – especially if your receiver doesn’t have an RF gain control.  Although attenuators are often a popular Hamfest and flea market item, many hams prefer to build their own.  Here are three construction projects for doing just that: 
  • A Step Attenuator You Can Build, by Bob Shriner, WA0UZO & Paul Pagel, N1FB
    QST, September 1982, p 11
  • An RF Step Attenuator, by Denton Bramwell, K7OWJ
    QST, June 1995, p 33
  • A Rugged, Compact Attenuator, by Pete Ostapchuk, N9SFX
    QST, May 1998, p 41
• A Home-made Ultrasonic Power Line Arc Detector 
  QST, April 2006, p 41
  Provides complete construction details on an ultrasonic pinpointer capable of isolating arcing noise sources. This article originally appeared in the April 2006 issue of QST on page 41. The author also provided an Update to this article on page 99 of the June 2006 issue.
• A Simple Direction-Finding Receiver for 80 Meters
  QST September 2005, pp 36-42
  Provides effective interference tracking at the low end of the HF spectrum.
• Simple Equipment for HF Fox Hunting
  QST August 1994, pp. 33-35
  RDF HF sources of interference with this low cost project.
• A Simple TRF Receiver for Tracking RFI
  QST March 2001, p. 32
  Build this small receiver/antenna assembly to sniff out RFI sources.
• The EMI Finder
  QEX November /December 2003, pp. 48-53
  Easily locate sources of electromagnetic interference with this sensitive, low cost, UHF receiving system.

• KCBD-TV news story about the FCC citations to Lubbock Power and Light and Xcel Energy in Lubbock, TX 
  Local news coverage about the FCC Citation issued to Xcel Energy and Lubbock Power and Light in Lubbock, TX.  A video of the original news broadcst is being made available for the ARRL Web site with the permission and courtesy of KCBD-TV Channel 11 in Lubbock, TX. 
  (Play Video): KCBD-TV Broadcast August 27, 2007
• KCBD-TV news story video about the safety hazards of poorly maintained power lines in Lubbock, TX 
  This follow-up story describes how power line noise is perceived as being related to maintenance of the power lines in Lubbock.  KCBD-TV reports that 73 fires related to the power lines have occurred within the past year.  A video of the original news broadcast is being made available for the ARRL Web site with the permission and courtesy of KCBD-TV Channel 11 in Lubbock, TX. 
  (Play Video): KCBD-TV Broadcast September 24, 2007
• FCC Issues Two Citations in Longstanding Power Line Noise Case
• FCC Cites Florida Utility for Interference to Radio Amateur

• Radar Engineers
  Makers of RFI locators, ultrasonic locators, arc reflection radar, secondary fault locators and cable tracers.
• Information Unlimited   Ultrasonic receiver and other audio devices
  Ultrasonic receiver plans, kit or pre-assembled.
• Transtronics   Ultrasonic Translator
  Ultrasonic receiver in kit form.
• UE Systems Inc.
  Manufactures of ultrasonic equipment and instruments.
• Arrow Antennas
  Providers of Radio Direction Finding loop and hand held Yagi antennas.  
• DazyWeb Laboratories WM-400 (Soundcard) AC Wattmeter
  Software to monitor your power line at home for frequency, phase, noise, power factor, and glitches.

• RFI Services - Power-line workshops and troubleshooting consulting.
  RFI Services provides classroom and on-site training for power-company personnel on the techniques used to identify and cure power-line interference. They can also troubleshoot electrical-noise problems in the field.
• ARC Technical Resources, Inc.
  Providers of electromagnetic compatibility training, equipment, systems and services, including power-line noise locating.
• Lichtig EMC Consulting
  Provides power-line noise consultation services. Also provides EMC consultation services to the telecommunications industry. 

ARRL is able to help electric utilities deal with power-line interference complaints involving Amateur Radio. It's staff can help complainants correctly identify noise sources and ARRL can offer some limited, no-cost consultation to utility staff.  The resources from this page that are generally the most useful to electric utility companies are listed in this section.  Utilities may contact ARRL's technical staff at [email protected].

Articles and technical information 

• Transmission & Distribution World Magazine
  provides practical information and insight toward A Smarter Approach to Resolving Power-Line Noise. T&D Magazine is edited for engineers and operating professionals in the electric power industry. Expanded from this article with additional information is The Issue of Power-Line Noise A Smarter Approach. This expanded article covers all aspects of how best to handle and resolve a power-line noise complaint.
• Power-Line Noise Mitigation Handbook for Naval and Other Receiving Sites
• Gene Preston, K5GP provides power-line RFI information based on his many years of experience in the power utility industry in How To Quickly Locate And Fix Power Line Interference. Gene's PowerPoint RFI presentation given at the Midland ham fest is also available. Note: this is a 4 megabyte file.
• EMF-Link provides Questions and Answers About EMF Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power.  January 1995.

Power lines in the public press

• KCBD-TV news story about the FCC citations to Lubbock Power and Light and Xcel Energy in Lubbock, TX 
  Local news coverage about the FCC Citation issued to Xcel Energy and Lubbock Power and Light in Lubbock, TX.  A video of the orginal news broadacst is made available with permission and courtesy of KCBD-TV Channel 11 in Lubbock, TX.
  (Play video):  KCBD-TV News Video Broadcast August 27,2007
• KCBD-TV news story video about the safety hazards of poorly maintained power lines in Lubbock, TX
  This followup story describes how power line noise is perceived as being related to maintenance of the power lines in Lubbock. KCBD-TV reports that 73 fires related to the power lines have occurred within the past year.  A video of the orginal news broadacst is made available with permission and courtesy of KCBD-TV Channel 11 in Lubbock, TX.
  (Play video):  KCBD-TV News Video Broadcast September 24, 2007

Equipment use to locate power-line noise

• Radar Engineers
  Makers of RFI locators, ultrasonic locators, arc reflection radar, secondary fault locators and cable tracers. 

Consultants and training

• RFI Services - Power-line workshops and troubleshooting consulting.
  RFI Services provides classroom and on-site training for power-company personnel on the techniques used to identify and cure power-line interference. They can also troubleshoot electrical-noise problems in the field.  
• ARC Technical Resources, Inc.
  Providers of electromagnetic compatibility training, equipment, systems and services, including power-line noise locating.  
  
  
  

  FCC and regulatory

  • FCC Enforcement Activities and the Electric Utility Industry
    The ARRL and FCC cooperative agreement following with a link list to FCC enforcement letters sent to electric-utility companies concerning harmful interference reports.  
  • FCC Issues Two Citations in Longstanding Power Line Noise Case
  • FCC Cites Florida Utility for Interference to Radio Amateur 
  • Electric Power - Associations & Trade Organizations
  • State Public Utility Commissions
  • Consumer Affairs.Com provides a list of State Utility Commissioners 

The FCC has been actively and effectively pursuing power-line noise interference complaints. Its process is designed to make good use of self regulation and cooperation by all involved parties. Most cases of power-line noise are resolved directly and effectively by power companies, eliminating the need for any ARRL or FCC assistance. In some cases, however, due to the lack of an effective or timely response by the involved utility, it is sometimes necessary to start the process of involving the FCC.  The first steps involve the ARRL, which provides the electric utility with information about the complaint and technical information on how to resolve it.  This private-sector process gives electric utility companies opportunity to resolve power line noise complaints in a way that is reasonably balanced against the difficulties of correctly and identifying power line noise, and scheduling repairs in a way that does not have a major impact on utility customers. Those cases that are not being addressed in a reasonable and timely fashion are then forwarded by the ARRL to the FCC, typically within a few months of having been initiated by the complainant.  Commission staff evaluate the complaint and it appears that power company equipment is involved, the FCC initiates an advisory letter to the utility, letting it know that the FCC has received a complaint, asking for information from the utility about its attempts at resolution and once again giving the utility an opportunity to resolve the interference and to work directly with the complainant and ARRL. If all of these efforts don't resolve a case, it is then referred to a local FCC field office for investigation. This can and does lead to formal FCC enforcement action, including Citations and specific requirements to utilities to resolve problems and to provide regular reporting on progress to the FCC.

This program is a good balance between private-sector and government involvement. It provides reasonable timetables that are longer than the amount of time given by the FCC to resolve other reported interference problems in recognition of the unique nature of power-line interference, where the identification of the correct source among multiple noise sources on power lines and scheduling various utility staff to perform their own part in the process can take time. ARRL stands ready to offer advice and encouragment at every step in the process. This program represents a model of how interference problems can be resolved effectively by the involved licensees, industry, organizations and government. 

Links

• FCC Enforcement Activities and the Electric Utility Industry.
  The ARRL and FCC cooperative agreement following with a link list to FCC enforcement letters sent to electric-utility companies concerning harmful interference reports.
• How the FCC can Help with Power-Line Interference
• FCC Issues Two Citations in Longstanding Power Line Noise Case
• FCC Cites Florida Utility for Interference to Radio Amateur  

• Power-Line Noise Mitigation Handbook for Naval and Other Receiving Sites
  This is a comprehensive manual that describes how to understand, locate and correct power line noise.  A must for every utility or RFI troubleshooter.
• Gene Preston, K5GP provides power-line RFI information based on his many years of experience in the power utility industry in How To Quickly Locate And Fix Power Line Interference. Gene's PowerPoint RFI presentation given at the Midland ham fest is also available. Note: this is a 4 megabyte file.
• FCC Enforcement Activities and the Electric Utility Industry.
  The ARRL and FCC cooperative agreement following with a link list to FCC enforcement letters sent to electric-utility companies concerning harmful interference reports.
• Bert Hickman's Website contains a page entitled More Arcs 'n Sparks! Some links on this page depict arcing from electric utility owned equipment. Based on the short duration and transient nature of these arcs however, these incidents would probably not meet the FCC definition of "harmful interference."
• Electric Power - Associations & Trade Organizations
• State Public Utility Commissions
• Consumer Affairs.Com provides a list of State Utility Commissioners