Follow Electricity's Journey Through the Transmission System

Jul 18, 2012 12:00 PM ET

Before you can flip your light switch to turn on a light, electricity takes quite a journey to reach you. Learn how electricity is transmitted to your home or business and how to stay safe around transmission towers and substations. This video illustrates the anatomy of an electric utility system.

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).