Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Consultant calls for a better way to corral stray voltage

Thursday, December 18, 2008

© Copyright AgMedia Inc

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

A consultant who measures stray voltage on farm properties says the Ontario Energy Board’s proposed solution doesn’t go far enough.

Lorne Lantz, one of about 12 who responded to proposed amendments to the Distribution System Code, says he hopes the Board “doesn’t stop at lowering the neutral to earth voltages.”

Farmers at a meeting he attended last year in Toronto had experienced problems even after introducing strategies to mitigate stray voltage. He’s also witnessed the problem on six farms. It’s a clear indication that something else is going on, he says. “What they’ve done should have helped them.”

Lantz, an electronics technician who lives near Wellesley, suspects currents returning through ground to substations are causing the problem.

If so, he fears one common strategy of lowering voltage levels - adding rods to direct currents to ground - will simply generate more problems for farmers.

The Plante family, who milk 70 cows on a farm near New Liskeard, wonders if “earth currents” might be the source of problems in their barn.

“We’re losing about $150,000 a year,” says Raymond Plante. “We never fill our quota and we lose cows.”

Plante says his hydro company checked the problem in 2000 and didn’t find any stray voltage.

Lantz tested the property last summer and found evidence of stray voltage. The family persuaded Hydro One to introduce mitigation.

But problems persisted. Animals lost weight and had poor appetites. Calves died. Raymond says doctors haven’t been able to find causes for ailments that he and his wife, Germaine, have experienced.

Raymond’s son Gilles says Lantz wants him to set up some more tests. They’ll have to wait because the snow is too deep.

Released Oct. 31, the Board’s proposal calls for amendments to the Distribution System Code requiring electrical distributors to use professionally qualified people when investigating a complaint and follow a specified investigation procedure; take steps to reduce to an established safe level any stray voltage attributable to the distribution system; and develop and make available its process for responding to farm stray voltage inquiries and customer complaints.

The comment period closed Dec. 5.

Paul Crawford, a spokesman for the Board, says next steps involve reviewing the comments and deciding whether the proposal needs to be changed.

The Board is also preparing to issue another proposed amendment that deals with the method of investigation. “It’s a detailed technical procedure,” says Crawford.

It too requires public feedback.

Crawford couldn’t predict how long it would take to complete the amendments.

“We’re coming to the end but it will still take a bit of time,” he says. BF
 

Current Issue

October 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Gleaner T Series Combine Updates

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Gleaner continues to advance harvest technology with its new T Series combine, delivering major improvements in power, reliability, and ease of operation. Designed with the farmer in mind, the T Series focuses on performance, accessibility, and cutting-edge precision tools for... Read this article online

New MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Case IH continues to expand its innovative harvest equipment lineup with the launch of the MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header, a new series designed to provide farmers with smoother, cleaner, and more efficient harvesting. Available in multiple widths — 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and even 61... Read this article online

New Holland IntelliSense Tech Elevates Crop Efficiency

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

The IntelliSense system features a forward-looking sensor mounted at the cab’s center line, allowing the sprayer to assess crop quality up to 50 feet ahead. It operates in two main modes: variable rate application and spot spraying. In variable rate mode, the system uses sunlight... Read this article online

Horror movies filmed in rural Ontario

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

As picturesque as rural Ontario and its farm settings can be, the landscape can also create the perfect backdrop to send chills down a spine. With that at top of mind and in celebration of all things spooky and horror in October, here are some horror movies filmed around rural... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top