Where Does Electricity Come from?

There are many complicated steps that go into producing electricity, starting with the initial energy source (fossil fuels, wind energy, and so on) that creates movement in a turbine or piston, which ultimately rotates the rotor in the generator.

The movement of the rotor and stator leads to an electrical current being produced. Power lines carry this current to our communities.

Electricity is electrons in motion. An electron is an extremely small particle of an atom which carries a tiny electrical charge. When it moves through the electric wire, the electrons in the wire move form atom to atom.

The electrical energy travels through the wire just about as fast as the speed of light.

How do we have electricity? Electricity is made at a generating station by huge electric generators. Generating stations can use wind, coal, natural gas, or water. The current is sent through transformers to increase the voltage to push the power long distances.

Most of the electricity that we use in our everyday lives is produced by huge electric generators in power plants. The generator spins a magnet inside coils of wire. This puts electrons in motion and creates a flow of electricity.

Content for this question contributed by Danny Korol, resident of Southwick, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA