Education

Electricity is delivered to you through the "grid" - a network of power lines, transformers and substations.

1. Power plants generate electricity and send it through a step-up transformer, which raises the voltage level and sends the electricity to transmission lines. Transmission lines are noticeable by the tall transmission towers that support them. Transmission lines carry high-voltage power to transmission substations.
2. Transmission substations contain transformers that lower the voltage of electricity and distribute it between lower-voltage lines. A transmission substation can serve tens of thousands of customers.
3. Distribution substations further lower the voltage of electricity and distribute the power to cities and towns through main lines, which serve hundreds of customers.
4. Branch lines carry lower voltage power to clusters of homes and businesses, and are supported by wood poles.
5. Service drop lines serve single customers. The voltage from a branch line is lowered through a transformer at the pole that connects to your home or business through the service drop line.