Transmission 
Transmission
After electricity is produced at power plants it has to get to the customers that use the electricity. Most states and countries are crisscrossed with power lines that carry electricity. The electricity first goes to a transformer at the power plant that boosts the voltage up to 400,000 volts. That's a lot of volts. When electricity travels long distances it is better to have it at higher voltages.
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This is a power line. If it falls down, don't touch it. Call the power company. |
This transformer lowers the voltage of the electricity coming into our school building. |
The cables are made of copper and aluminum. These wires carry electricity long distances to a substation. Transformers at the substation change the electricity back to a lower voltage. From the substations, it gets sent out to you. When it comes into your house, the voltage has been lowered to around 115 volts. It's still dangerous, but not as much as the 40,000 volt lines.
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