Infrastructure · Definition
Substation
A facility where electrical voltage is transformed and circuits are switched, protected, or controlled.
In plain languageA facility where electrical voltage is transformed and circuits are switched, protected, or controlled.
- Category
- Infrastructure
- Primary reference
- U.S. Energy Information Administration
Why it matters
How this term helps you read grid data
Substations connect different parts of the grid and help move electricity between transmission and distribution voltage levels.
Example
Substation in practice
A transmission substation may lower voltage before electricity enters a local distribution network.
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 →