The distance that electricity typically travels from its production site to your home can vary, but it is often hundreds of miles. Here’s a breakdown of the journey electricity takes from power generation to your home:

• Power Generation

Electricity is produced at power plants, which can be located far from urban and residential areas. Power generation facilities include coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric dams, wind farms, and solar plants. Depending on the region and the type of power plant, these facilities are often located 50 to 300 miles or more from the areas they serve.

• High-Voltage Transmission Lines

Once electricity is generated, it is sent through high-voltage transmission lines. These lines are designed to carry electricity over long distances with minimal energy loss. High-voltage transmission lines can span hundreds of miles, carrying electricity from remote power plants to cities and towns.

• Substations and Distribution Lines

At substations, the high-voltage electricity is converted to a lower voltage that is suitable for residential and commercial use. From there, the electricity travels through distribution lines, which carry it to neighborhoods and homes. These lines generally travel shorter distances compared to transmission lines, typically within a 5 to 20-mile radius from local substations.

• Local Delivery to Homes

Finally, electricity is delivered to homes through the utility company’s network of local transformers and power lines. These lines can stretch a few miles or just a few hundred feet from the nearest utility pole or underground service.

In Total:

Electricity often travels 50 to 500 miles from the power generation source to homes, depending on the location of the power plants, the layout of the transmission grid, and the distance from substations to neighborhoods.

While long-distance transmission is efficient thanks to high-voltage lines, energy losses (typically around 6-10%) still occur during the process, which is why power plants are strategically placed to minimize these losses while balancing environmental, logistical, and economic factors.