AEP's Anatomy of a Distribution System

Jul 27, 2012 8:30 PM ET

Before you can flip your light switch to turn on a light, electricity takes quite a journey to reach you. This video illustrates what happens in the distribution portion of the journey. Learn what happens and how to stay safe around equipment like power poles and transformers.

AEP - American Electric Power
AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.

AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas).