michigan environmental education curriculum support (meecs) michigan environmental education...
TRANSCRIPT
Michigan Environmental Education Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS)Curriculum Support (MEECS)
Energy Resources UnitLesson 3 How does electricity get to our homes?
Created by Heather Luoto
Copyright 2005 Central Michigan University
There are three phases of electric power supply:Generation is defined as the production of electric energy
from other energy sources.
Transmission is the delivery of electric energy over high-voltage lines from the power plants to the distribution areas.
Distribution includes the local system of lower voltage lines,
substations, and transformers, which are used to deliver the electricity to end-use consumers.
Source: United States Department of Energy. Energy Information Administration. Electricity. The U.S. Electric Power
Industry Infrastructure: Functions and Components. Washington, DC. Retrieved March 8, 2004, from http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/chg_stru_update/chapter3.html#trans
Source: Lower Colorado River Authority http://www.lcra.org/energy/getpower.html
Generation Electricity is generated at power plants and generating
facilities using energy resources.
Photo Sources: Edison Sault Electric Company, DTE Energy, Village of Mackinaw City
Transmission
Electricity leaves the power plant and travels along wires to a step-up substation
(high voltage switch yard) where the voltage is increased using transformers to reduce
energy (heat) loss during transmission.
Photo Credit: Heather Luoto
The electricity leaves the substation and enters the network of high voltage transmission lines called the electric power grid.
Most of the Upper Peninsula is connected to the MAIN: Mid-America Interconnected Network.
The Lower Peninsula is connected to the ECAR: East Central Area Reliability Coordination Agreement.
The Main Interconnections of the U.S. Electric Power Grid and the 10 North American Electric Reliability Council Regions
Note: There is no “national power grid” in the United States. The continental United States is divided into three main power grids. •Source: North American Electric Reliability Council. 2004.
The electricity then travels on high voltage transmission lines to step-down substations near the final destinations.
Photo Credit: Heather Luoto
DistributionSmall step-down transformers in substations reduce the voltage so it can be carried on smaller distribution lines to customers.
Photo Credit: Heather Luoto
Transformer and Distribution Lines in an Upper
Peninsula NeighborhoodPhoto Credit: Heather Luoto
Small transformers on poles or on the ground reduce the voltage to 120-240 volts for residential use. The electricity travels to homes on either above ground or underground wires.