| From the discovery of static electricity in Ancient | | | | years. Some of the organizations, like the Regional |
| Greece by Thales of Miletus to the creation of the | | | | Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent |
| worlds first electrostatic generator by Otto von | | | | System Operators (ISOs) are necessary in order to |
| Guericke thousands of years later, many scientists | | | | preserve the United States power grids. This is one |
| are intrigued by power. Just how is static electricity, | | | | of the best ways to keep an eye on the grids so |
| energy or electricity produced? Notable scientists like | | | | that every consumer can use the power that they |
| Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and Ben | | | | need, when they need it. These organization regulate |
| Franklin learned a great deal about electricity during | | | | the use of power plants with the customers to make |
| the 18th and 19th centuries. It was through their | | | | sure that the power is delivered properly to our |
| work as well as that of others that formed the | | | | homes. |
| modern idea of electricity. We use electricity in our | | | | There are all kinds of power plants that are able to |
| homes and offices, but exactly how does the | | | | deliver electricity. Many people don't realize it but |
| electricity get from the power plant to your home? | | | | over 50% of the electricity produced in the United |
| Electricity is delivered to our homes by use of a grid. | | | | States is produced with coal. Nuclear power produces |
| A grid is a network of distribution and transmission | | | | 20%, natural gas contributes 17%, hydroelectric is |
| lines that are located either below or above the | | | | responsible for 7%, and renewables produce just 3%. |
| ground. When electricity is traveling across the grid | | | | Each and every plant has a group of advocates that |
| the lines hold a huge amount of high voltages. The | | | | promote their favorite materials for generation. Fossil |
| lines transport the power from the power plant right | | | | fuel plants operate with refined oil product, natural |
| into your home. In some regions of the world you | | | | gas, and coal. Each one of these fuel types are |
| might see these power lines strung between wooden | | | | burned in the plants to power the gears and boilers |
| poles, metal towers, or transformers that look like a | | | | that produce the electricity that is used by the public. |
| simple white box mounted on a pole. The cost of | | | | Nuclear energy depends on radioactive materials like |
| power to the consumer is determined by The State | | | | plutonium or uranium to heat the generators core |
| Regulatory Commission. Every house has a meter | | | | with then produces the electricity. Renewable energy |
| that measures the number of kilowatts that have | | | | uses power sources that are practically inexhaustible |
| been used and once it is read it can be determined | | | | like geothermal, biomass, solar, and wind power. More |
| how much energy the house consumed. The meter is | | | | plants around the world are trying to make the |
| the point of entry from the power lines to your | | | | switch to renewable energy. The use of green |
| home. | | | | energy will outlast the fossil fuels by thousands of |
| Some companies own and operate their individual | | | | years. There are an number of incentives available |
| power plants within their specific grid. Others produce | | | | for consumers that install this type of power in their |
| their own energy and buys additional power from | | | | homes. In addition to the rebates, these |
| other states. For example Southern CalEdision of | | | | homeowners will also see a huge reduction on their |
| California purchases additional energy form the Palo | | | | energy bills. |
| Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona. Arizona | | | | Climate and delivery system and costs will be the |
| produces hydroelectricity for California, Nevada, New | | | | determining factors on the price to the consumer. |
| Mexico and themselves at the plant at Glen Canyon | | | | The cost will also be determinate on what you are |
| Dam. It is common for companies to buy, sell, or | | | | powering in your home. Air conditioning usually takes |
| trade power with one another, particularly during | | | | up 16% of your bill while the refrigerator is 14%, |
| peak times of the year or catastrophes. Sometimes | | | | heating 9-10%, lighting 9% and appliances 3-5%. |
| a rolling blackout will occur when and areas power | | | | The next time you are driving down a road, take a |
| usage exceeds the distribution of power. Some | | | | look to see if you are able to follow the path the |
| companies or governments will create mandatory | | | | electricity takes as it travels from the power plant, |
| blackouts in order to prevent a grid from becoming | | | | on to the transformers, through the lines that hang |
| overburdened. | | | | from the power poles, into the meter at your house. |
| In order to guarantee the reliable delivery of | | | | It is interesting to see for yourself exactly how the |
| electricity, organizations have been formed over the | | | | electricity gets from the power plant to your home. |