Transmission and Distribution of Electricity

• In the Philippines, the generation and transmission of electricity is owned and operated by National Power Corporation (NPC).

  • NPC was a vertically integrated power utility engaged in the production, transmission and distribution of electric power and used to be the largest provider and generator of electricity in the country. It was also the principal power provider for Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the only power distributor in the Metro Manila area and its nearby provinces.
• How Electricity gets to our houses:

  A) Generation

  B) Transmission

  C) Distribution

  D) Consumer

  
• How electricity reaches our homes

  1. The high voltage power produced by the generator enters a transmission station at the power plant

  2. The huge amount of power at a very high voltage is carried by a long conductor called transmission line to the transmission substation. Transmission line is supported by a rigid structure called transmission tower. This also route power along the transmission line

  3. A high voltage power in the transmission line reaches the distribution substation. This station uses smaller transformer to "step down" the voltage or making low voltage to a level suitable for distribution line so it can be sent through distribution poles

  4. At the distribution pole, a small transformer is mounted that further reduces the voltage to 110 to 220 volts

  5. The reduced voltage reaches the service drop wire that serves as a path for the power from the distribution pole to the consumer

  6. In the house, the control panel distributes power through wires in the walls and through a meter that measures the amount of electrical energy used
• Identify the following components in the diagram.

  A) power station

  B) Transmission Lines

  C) electric poles

  D) Distribution lines

  E) transformer