The electricity produced by a generator travels along cables to a transformer that changes the voltage of electricity. Power lines carry the high-voltage electricity over very long distances. When it reaches your home town another transformer lowers the voltage and smaller power lines bring it to homes, offices and factories.



Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2008).



Words

  • distance = space from one place to another
  • high-voltage = a high electrical force 
  • power lines = a large wire that carries electricity above or under the ground
  • step down = here: change to a lower voltage
  • step up = here: change to a higher voltage 
  • transformer = a machine that changes electricity from one voltage to another
  • voltage = an electrical force measured in volts