Enter to open, tab to navigate, enter to select
Electric Grid
Practical Law Glossary Item 4-517-6469 (Approx. 2 pages)
Glossary
Electric Grid
Also referred to as a power grid or grid. The network of power lines and associated equipment for the transmission and distribution of electricity from generating stations to consumers.
The grid consists of three main components:
- Generating stations that produce the electricity. This includes fossil fuel fired (coal and natural gas) and renewable energy based (wind, solar and hydropower) plants.
- High-voltage transmission lines that carry electricity from the power plants to substations.
- Transformers that reduce or step down the voltage of the electricity delivered at the substation so that the electricity can be transported through lower voltage distribution lines to customers.
To better manage the system and ensure that demand matches supply, many utilities and energy advocates are researching and developing smart grid technologies that would enable them and consumers to better respond to changes in electricity usage.
For more information on generators, see Practice Note, Renewable Energy: Overview (US).