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BACK TO THE BASICS IN ELECTRICITY
APRIL 1994 Background
Electricity has become an essential service throughout the United States and in many cases is taken for granted in our society. When the light switch is flipped on, we expect the light to come on instantly. If the light does not come on, the power company is criticized even though the outage is only for an occasional few minutes. Power companies take their role of supplying reliable electric service very seriously which has resulted in the most uniform and stable power service in the world. The following is a summary of some of the basic element of the electric power system.
Discussion
Three common terms in the electricity are voltage, current, and frequency:
Voltage is measured in volts [or kilovolts (KV) which equals 1,000 volts] and is analogous to pressure in a water pipe.
Current is the rate of flow of electricity. Current is measured in amps and is analogous to water flowing in a pipe in gallons per minute.
Frequency is the rate of oscillation in alternating current and is maintained at 60 Hertz (or 60 cycles per second). Constant frequency is critical to the operation of electrical equipment such as computers, clocks, and some motors.
Electricity is essentially produced at the time it is used and delivered at the speed of light. Theoretically, when a light is turned on, a generator in the system senses the increase in load and produces the power. In reality, the voltage level may sag slightly and the frequency drops a little. These changes are sensed by very sophisticated electronic equipment, which in turn adjusts the generation to meet the customers needs and maintain a stable power supply.
Electricity can not be economically stored in large quantities. Batteries are practical for flashlights and automobiles, but not for larger loads such as houses and factories. Therefore, the energy for electricity is stored in the form of fuel (i.e. coal, gas, or oil) or in the form of water in a reservoir to produce hydroelectric power.
The power that is produced flows to the load over the "path of least resistance." Contractual arrangements are made between utilities to account for the power and meters are installed to measure the flow of power, but the power will always flow according to the laws of physic rather than the contractual path.
Source: Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU)
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