How does energy get to a power plant to a school?

Answer 1

The power plant has generators that convert power from a mechanical source, such as a heat engine or hydroelectric turbine, into electrical energy. To deliver the electrical energy long distances requires a network of very long transmission lines. The long distances requires power at a very high voltage. Voltage, or "electromotive force" is the force that pushes the electrical current through the wires.

The high voltage is produced by a transformer in an electrical substation that is located very close to the power plant. The transformer changes the voltage produced by the gnerator, which is usually about 15,000 volts, to hundreds of thousands of volts. The electricity is transmitted, hundreds, even thousands of miles on high voltage transmission power lines. Near the school, the transmission line is connected to another substation. This substation has a transformer that changes the hundreds of thoursands of volts of the transmission line down to a much lower voltage, usually below 20,000 volts.

The lower voltage power is delivered to customers on electrical distribution lines, owned by the local utility company. Near the school is another transformer. This transformer changes the distribution voltage to a much lower voltage for direct use inside the school. The voltage of the power used in the school is usually between 120 volts and 480 volts, and there is usually other Transformers in the school to change the electrical energy to voltages specifically required for ventilation motors, lights, computers, copiers, kitchen appliances, etc.