Abstract: In a xerographic reproduction machine there is provided apparatus for partially neutralizing charge on the backside of a copy sheet electrostatically adhered to a photoconductive surface. Included in the apparatus is a conductive wire having a relatively thick insulative outer coating which is sufficiently thick that with an a.c. voltage applied to the conductive wire there is substantially no net d.c. current flow from the wire in the absence of an external electrostatic field. Such a construction of wire and outer coating is known as a dicorotron electrode. A net positive current flows from the wire to the back of the paper when an external electrostatic field is established between the conductive shield and the copy sheet by moving said copy sheet with a positive voltage on its backside past the conductive wire.