When you turn on a light, click on the television or set the oven to bake – you expect it to work. Have you ever wondered about how electricity gets to your home or business?

Electricity powers nearly every part of our lives and communities, so it’s important to know the basics of how it gets to us.

Here are the five steps of power delivery:

1. Generation: Electrical energy is generated at a power plant. At I&M, we have various sources creating power including the Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant on the shores of Lake Michigan, Rockport Coal Plant in southern Indiana, six hydroelectric facilities along the St. Joseph River, five solar farms and four wind farms. At full power, the D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant can generate enough electricity for more than 1.5 million homes.

2. 

   Voltage Increased: After it’s created, electricity will flow to a substation – which is an important stop as the equipment primarily are used to increase or decrease in the voltage. In this case, the voltage will be increased to ensure electricity can efficiently travel long distances.
3. Transmission: The high-voltage electricity is then sent long distances along high-voltage power lines, called “transmission lines.” At I&M, we maintain more than 3,800 miles of transmission lines. American Electric Power, our parent company, owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, which spreads across 40,000 miles and includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage power lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.
4. Voltage Decreased: The high-voltage electricity then enters a substation where the voltage is decreased to more usable levels for our communities.
5. Distribution: Power from the substation is then carried to customers. Electricity travels through wooden power poles and power lines, including underground power lines, to neighborhoods and businesses. Small transformers on power poles or padmounts (a green box on the ground) could be used to decrease voltage one last time before electricity is sent to your home or business.

While electricity is essential, it’s also very dangerous. To stay safe, please remember:

• If you see a downed power line, stay far away. Please call all local police or I&M at 1-800-311-4634.
• Kites, drones, toy airplanes and balloons should not be flown or released near electrical equipment.
• Do not climb trees near electrical equipment. 
• Do not play, sit or hit outdoor electrical boxes. Never enter an electrical substation. If a ball or a pet goes inside a substation, please call I&M for help.

Every day, we work to strengthen the electric grid — enhancing your service and increasing reliability. For more information, click here.