What Is Electricity?


Electricity is something we all depend upon but never really think much
about. We take it for granted. We flip a switch, and there it is, available Thomas Alva Edison
instantly to do a thousand tasks.

But producing, transmitting, distributing and delivering electricity to the customer is a complex and demanding job. It begins at a generating plant, goes through switchyards, transmission lines, substations and transformers before it gets to the meter at a customerīs home

Electricity is actually a form of energy due to an unbalanced atomic condition. The form of energy begins with the atom, and is made up of:

  • Protons -- Positive Charge
  • Neutrons -- No Charge
  • Electrons -- Negative Charge

Electric History

Benjamin Franklin  

Ben Franklin (1706-1790)
Conducted his famous experiment in the 1740s, proving lightning was a source of energy. More about Ben Franklin...

Alexander Bell  

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)
Invented the telephone in 1876.
More about Alexander Bell...

Thomas Edison  

Thomas Edison (1847-1931)
Invented the light bulb in 1879. He was also responsible
for the country's first power plant. More about Thomas Edison...

Granville Woods  

Granville T. Woods (1856-1910)
Invented many electrical devices for the telephone and telegraph in the 1840s. More about Granville Woods...


Check out Energy Quest to learn more about electricity!