Delivering Electricity
Delivering electricity is made possible by sophisticated distribution systems that transmit huge volumes of high voltage electricity from generating stations. Along the way to your home or business, the high voltage electricity is translated into lower level voltages that the electrical system of your home or business can use.
(1) Power Generating Stations
Duke Energy produces electricity at our nuclear, fossil-fueled and hydroelectric generation stations.
(2) Transmission Lines
From the generating stations, large amounts of electricity are transported on transmission lines—between 44,000 and 525,000 volts—to local substations.
(3) Substations
Next, substations—banks of electrical equipment—convert the transmission line voltage to lower levels that are appropriate for distribution power lines, which are used in local communities. Substations also control the flow of electricity and protect the lines and equipment from damage.
(4) Distribution Power Lines
Distribution power lines, which can be installed above ground or underground, carry between 4,000 and 25,000 volts of electricity to your neighborhood.
(5) Your Home or Business
A (6) transformer converts the distribution level voltage to levels that can be used inside your home or business. This voltage is carried from the transformer through an underground or overhead power line — also referred to as a (7) service drop — to (8) individual meters. That voltage ranges from 120 to 480 volts.
