Who does what?
There are three main components of the electricity system: Generation, Transmission and Distribution. At CL&P, we don't generate electricity, we deliver it — to more than 1.2 million business and residential customers.
Step 1: GENERATION
- Electricity is produced at a generating plant, using various sources such as natural gas, coal and nuclear.
- The Independent System Operator - New England (ISO-NE) manages the electric grid (generating plants and the transmission system) and administers the wholesale electricity marketplace for New England.
Step 2: TRANSMISSION
- Electricity is moved from the generating plant across long distances through transmission lines.
- In order for the electricity to travel long distances from the plant to other destinations, it must be kept at a very high voltage.
- Substations then take the incoming high voltage electricity and "step it down" to a lower level voltage, allowing it to be connected to the local distribution system.
Step 3: DISTRIBUTION
- The local distribution system, made up of several types of lines, takes the electricity from the substation and delivers it to businesses, homes and schools.
