ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

North American power transmission grid

Okay kiddo, have you ever played with toy cars and tracks? The North American Power Transmission Grid is like a really big track that helps move electricity from power plants to homes and businesses all across North America.

Just like how you need a toy car to run on the track, the power grid needs electricity to run on the track. This electricity is produced by power plants, which are like factories that make electricity using different things like coal, natural gas, or even wind and solar power.

But how does the electricity get to your house or your school? Well, that's where the power grid comes in! The power grid is a network of wires and cables that run all across North America. It's like a big web that connects all the power plants to all the buildings and homes that need electricity.

When the power is produced at the power plant, it is sent through the wires to a substation. A substation is like a big hub where the electricity can be adjusted and sent on to its final destination. From there, the electricity is sent out to different areas using smaller cables and wires.

At your house or school, there is a special box called a meter that measures how much electricity you use. You might have noticed this on the side of your house or on a pole nearby. This meter sends a message back to the utility company to let them know how much electricity you used and how much they need to charge you for it.

So, that's the North American Power Transmission Grid in a nutshell, kiddo. It's a really cool system that helps us all stay connected and powered up!