The company RTE, a subsidiary of EDF, was condemned by the court of Coutances (Manche) to pay more than 458,337 euros to dairy farmers, indicates the judgment dated Thursday, June 2. The “operating damage” is attributed to a very high voltage line (THT), learned AFP, Friday, June 3, from the registry.
Having had a milking parlor since 1990, the breeder, who later partnered with another breeder, suffered for years from multiple problems with his herd because of these high voltage lines. On the other hand, the breeders were dismissed from their requests. They denounced economic losses due to mastitis (inflammation of the udders) suffered by the animals, but also additional work and moral damage suffered.
“Faced with the explosion of cases of mastitis in its livestock, the food, infectious or zootechnical origin of which could not be demonstrated”, traces the court, the farmer suspected electrical interactions. Nearby is indeed a very high voltage line (400,000 volts).
To assess these possible effects, the line was shut down between August 2 and August 29, 2012. “Visit [de contrôle] carried out as part of the follow-up concludes with ‘a complete change in animal behavior since the line was stopped: calmer, work greatly facilitated during milking for breeders'”, according to the judgment. Finally, the breeding is moved in April 2014. The breeders then note “an improvement from October 2015 which was confirmed in the following years”notes the court.
“This is an important decision, because it allows breeders who are in the same situation to hope for favorable decisions concerning them, and it sets fairly high compensation amounts compared to previous decisions”, reacted François Lafforgue, lawyer for breeders. Asked by AFP, RTE said it “did not rule out the possibility of appealing”.