Grid structure · Definition
Power grid
The connected system of power plants, transmission lines, substations, distribution equipment, controls, and customers used to deliver electricity.
In plain languageThe connected system of power plants, transmission lines, substations, distribution equipment, controls, and customers used to deliver electricity.
- Category
- Grid structure
- Primary reference
- U.S. Energy Information Administration
Why it matters
How this term helps you read grid data
The grid is a coordinated network rather than a single national machine. Operators balance it across overlapping technical and organizational boundaries.
Example
Power grid in practice
Electricity may travel from a plant through high-voltage transmission, a substation, and local distribution lines before reaching a customer.
Reference
Check the primary source
US Grid Explorer paraphrases agency terminology for clarity. Consult the agency reference for formal definitions and current regulatory usage.
U.S. Energy Information Administration →