Ever wondered how flipping a switch lights up your room, powers your gadgets, or keeps factories running? It is a fascinating process that brings electricity to our homes, offices, industries, and hospitals. This is a breakdown of what you need to know in simple terms.
The journey:
Generation -> Transmission -> Distribution
STEP 1: Generation
Electricity starts its journey at big facilities called power plants, like our plants in Ughelli and Afam. These places are like giant factories that convert various types of energy—like water flow, sunlight, wind, gas, coal, or even nuclear reactions—into electrical power. Imagine them as magical kitchens where instead of cooking food, they ‘cook’ up electricity.
This electricity is usually generated at a strength measured in kilovolts (think of it as the ‘power level’), and then it is boosted up higher to travel long distances. It is generated between 11.5 – 16kV(kV means kilovolt (KV) and it is simply the unit of measurement for electric potential or voltage) and stepped up by a step-up transformer to 132/330kV at the Power stations.
STEP 2: Transmission
Once electricity is made, it needs to get to you. This step is like a superhighway for electricity, where it zips along at high voltages on big towers and cables, reaching out towards towns and cities. Think of this as the electricity taking a high-speed train to get closer to you, dropping off at stations (substations, actually) where it gets ready for the final leg of its journey.
Electricity is transported at 132/330kV through high-tension power lines to Injection substations where it is stepped down to a lower voltage such as 33/11kV for onward distribution to different categories of end users.
End users could be classified as industrial, commercial, or residential and each receives power from the distribution network at various voltage levels depending on their equipment requirements.
STEP 3: Distribution
Finally, electricity reaches a more local station where it ‘dresses down’ to a lower strength more suited for homes, businesses, or factories. This is like taking a local bus from the station to your street. For homes, it is tuned to just the right level to safely power your lights, fridge, and TV without causing any issues.
Typically, residential consumers receive power at the 415/220V for 3-phase and single-phase supply, industrial and commercial consumers may receive it at a 33/11kV voltage level.
In essence, the electricity takes a three-step trip to reach you. Step 1 is where Transcorp Power and Transafam Power come in, playing a crucial role in the initial phase. The Federal Government currently handles Step 2, overseeing the crucial transition phase. Finally, AEDC steps in during Step 3, bringing the process to completion and delivering power to the end users.
So, next time you switch on a light or charge your phone, you will understand the incredible journey electricity has taken to reach you.