There are several steps involved in how electricity is distributed to our homes. Power is generated at a generating station and transferred from there through high-voltage transmission lines.
Then it is sent through domestic wiring and connected to switches throughout the house. This is a complex process that requires the use of transformers to lower voltage. Many people do not recognize the equipment that is used to distribute electricity.
To distribute electricity to our homes, the power company first needs to build the infrastructure. This will consist of wires that are attached to the service drop. Once connected to the home, the service wire will be routed through a meter box to measure how much electricity is consumed.
Once inside the home, the electricity is split into circuits and moves through wiring behind walls to power outlets and switches. Eventually, it will come to our homes and start running through our homes.
If you want to know in detail about how electricity reaches our homes, follow this guide.
How Is Electricity Generated?
You might be wondering how electricity is generated. This process involves the generation of electric power. Once you’ve generated it, the electricity then travels through a series of pipes and wires to your home.
First, electricity is generated at a central power plant and then travels through high-voltage transmission lines to the homes and buildings. It’s then stepped down to a lower voltage at a substation. Distribution lines then deliver the power to consumers.
Most energy is used in the transportation sector, but only a small portion is produced that way. But with the use of renewable energy, the methods of how electricity is generated are becoming more varied.
How Electricity Reaches Our Homes?
After electricity is generated, it goes through power lines to reach homes. Generally, high-voltage transmission lines are used. They are less expensive to transmit and are safer for use in our homes. Throughout the country, hundreds of thousands of miles of low-voltage power lines connect to power plants. To meet the needs of consumers, voltages must be adjusted at substations to make electricity safe for use in our homes. Here is how electricity reaches our home.
- Power Grid Station
Whether you live in a city or in a rural area, you probably have a Power Grid Station near you. The system is complex and requires several different pieces of equipment to distribute electricity throughout the grid. The first step is to understand the basics of the power distribution system. While we’re all familiar with the power lines, we might not pay attention to the different parts of the system.
When electricity is generated, it has to be transported to consumers. In the United States, the power grid consists of high-voltage transmission lines and low-voltage distribution lines. During the transmission process, electricity is converted from a high voltage to a lower voltage and distributed to homes and businesses. After the electricity is delivered, it must be transformed to meet the needs of customers. To prevent this from happening, a Power Grid Station is a crucial component of the power distribution system.
A Power Grid Station is a crucial component of the electrical system and a source of electricity for many people. Electricity generated from power plants is supplied through power grid stations. It is always located near a power plant where electricity is generated.
- Substation
A distribution substation is a central place where power is transferred from the transmission system to the distribution system. It is an expensive and potentially dangerous process to transport electricity. A substation is always located near the power grid station. The electricity from the power grid station is supplied through a substation. During the process of transportation, the voltage is increased so that electricity can easily be transmitted to long distances. Step Up Transformers are used to increase the voltage. From the substation transformer, the electricity is transmitted to the transmission network.
- Transmission Network
The main role of the Transmission Network to distribute electricity is to deliver power to residential and business customers. During this process, the voltage is still high as the electricity needs to travel a longer distance. It then flows through distribution lines that connect the homes and businesses. This process is the most efficient way to deliver power to customers. Electricity is delivered to consumers through a network of electrical transmission lines that can carry high voltage electricity over long distances. It allows the electricity to be distributed across the country with minimal electricity loss. The transmission network is typically large and is made up of a series of connection points.
- Receiver Substation
From the transmission network, the electricity is further supplied through the receiver substation. A Step-Down Transformer is used to reduce the voltage so that electricity can be safely supplied to homes and offices. The voltage is decreased, and electricity leaves the transmission lines to reach the distribution network. The functions of the substation are similar to those of a switching station. All these elements are necessary to maintain the safe balance of electricity supply and demand. For supplying power to industrial areas, the voltage is decreased to 33,000 volts. For delivering power to residential areas, the power is lowered to 230 volts.
- Distribution Network
In a distribution network, the energy is sent from the substation to the transformers serving individual buildings. The primary and secondary networks are connected to one another via a distribution transformer. In the network system, there are different kinds of lines and circuits, which are known as primary and secondary networks. From the receiver substation, the electricity reaches the distribution network to distribute electricity. The lines can be overhead or underground. The electricity passes through a local transformer on the street.
- Home/ Office
Electricity comes from many sources and travels through a distribution network to reach the consumer’s home and office. The electricity travels through transmission and distribution networks. Transmission lines carry high-voltage electricity over long distances. Once the electricity reaches the distribution network, it is then stepped down and resold at lower voltages. The lower-voltage electricity then enters the consumer’s home or office. During this step of the journey, the electricity is then delivered to the consumer’s home or office.