Power Plant

Step Up
Transformer
Step Down
Transformer
Step Down
Transformer
Distribution
Lines
Transmission
Lines
Residence
Whether it is fueled
by water, uranium
(nuclear), coal, wind,
natural gas, solar,
biomass, combined
cycle, geothermal
or landfll gas, power
plants use the fuel to
spin a turbine which
in turn produces
electricity. Most of
Cowlitz PUDs electrical
power is purchased
from Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA).
The electricity we
purchase from BPA
is made up of the
following (fuel mix):
Hydro 91.55%
Nuclear 4.79%
Coal 2.28%
Natural Gas .70%
Biomass 0.13%
Waste 0.04%
Petroleum 0.02%
Landfll Gases 0.01%
Other* 0.01%
*Includes the following fuel types - biomass,
landfll gas, petroleum and waste incineration.
As electricity leaves
the power plant it will
probably go through
a step up transformer
to increase its voltage.
This transformer may be
located in a substation.
A transformer is a piece
of electrical equipment
that has a two-sided
core. Each side has
copper wire wound
around it several times.
Between the sides an
electromagnetic feld
is created. In the case
of a step up transformer
the wire has fewer
winds on the side the
electricity comes in and
more winds on the side
it goes out. The ratio of
winds from one side to
the other determines
how much additional
voltage appears on
the side of the step up
transformer on which
the power goes out.
Transmission lines
carry electricity from
the power plant to
locations that can
be far away. While
traveling, electricity
loses voltage or
strength, in the form
of heat. Transformers
along the way help
boost the voltage to
make up for losses. The
high-power transmission
lines move from tower
to tower until they
reach a substation
in your area. The
electricity on these
lines typically runs at
115,000, 230,000 or
500,000 volts
Stepping it down
makes it more
economic to distribute
to the customers (i.e.
smaller equipment,
poles, wires, insulators,
transformers, etc.) A
step-down tranformer
takes care of this by
reversing what the
step up transformer did
earlier.
The electricity goes
through more winds
on the side it goes in, is
transferred across the
electromagnetic feld
to fewer winds on the
side it comes out. This
reduces the voltage
allowing it to move
over distribution lines.
Although the voltage
is much less than the
transmission lines it is still
very dangerous.
Distribution lines carry
the electricity from a
substation to your home
or business. They may
be overhead (as shown
in the above diagram)
or underground.
Electricity traveling on
distribution lines is at
14,270 volts.
Most of the time when
a power outage occurs
it happens between this
point and your home.
ALWAYS STAY AWAY
FROM POWER LINES
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY
ARE ON THE GROUND!
Transformers are often
seen on distribution
lines as well. They look
a bit like a big can way
up on a power pole.
Before the electricity
enters your home
it must be stepped
down again to make
it work with the
appliances in your
home. The electricity
is transformed from
14,270 volts down to
240 volts and 120 volts.
These transformers can
be on the power poles
or on the ground in
your neighborhood. It
is a good rule-of-thumb
to stay away from these
transformers.
At the point electricity
enters your home it
goes through a meter
which determines
how much electricity
your household uses.
This meter is read
monthly either by a
person looking at your
actual meter or by
someone reading your
meter remotely with a
computer. The meter
reading continues from
one month to the next.
The difference between
the last reading and
the most current one is
your usage.
Electricity powers
your lights, washer
and dryer, television,
computer, ipod,
heater, air conditioner,
garage door and many
other things. Isnt it nice
to have electricity at
your disposal?
Electricity - Transmission (how electricity moves)