What are some sites/resources that could assist someone
who is not familiar with the electrical industry and 
also could explain how generation, transmission and
distribution work?  Looking to both teach someone about
electricity itself (and gas) as well as about the industry
and what has gone on and deregulation (this part is less
important).  Even like a 'kiddie' website, but a little
more advanced, talking about different generation options,
what transformers and other products do and how everything 
works.  She is doing a project in this area and I am trying
to help get her up to speed.  Thanks, and if this is not
clear, please ask for clarification.  Looking for sites,
similar to the Paper Industry's site (forget where) and
also, though of less interest, books (similar to the downstream
oil on "Refining for Non-Technical People".

Hello.

I've found a number of excellent sites on this top. I've focused
mainly on electricity since that seemed to be your main interest, but
I've thrown in several natural gas links as well.

"WHAT IS ELECTRICITY?" from Department of Energy ("kiddie" site)
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/electricity.html
"Natural Gas -- A Fossil Fuel" from Department of Energy
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/non-renewable/naturalgas.html

"Electricity General Information" from Department of Energy
http://www.afdc.doe.gov/altfuel/ele_general.html

"How Power Distribution Grids Work" from howstuffworks.com
http://people.howstuffworks.com/power.htm

"The Travels of Electricity" from Nevada Power
http://safety.nevadapower.com/travels/whatis.html

California Energy Quest
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html
"What Is Electricity?" 
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter02.html
"Electricity Transmission System" 
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter07.html
"Fossil Fuels - Coal, Oil and Natural Gas"
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter08.html
"Natural Gas Distribution System"
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter09.html

Brain Pop: Current Electricity (Animated Movie)
http://www.brainpop.com/science/electricity/currentelectricity/index.weml

"Electricity Online" hosted by thinkquest.org
http://library.thinkquest.org/28032/

"What's Electricity?" from school.discovery.com
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/jakesattic/lab/electricity.html

"A Brief History of Electricity" from the-education-site.com
http://www.the-education-site.com/electric/history.htm

"Electricity Generation," from electricuniverse.com
http://csu.electricuniverse.com/html/eu/education/upower/sh/human/power/index.html

Throw The Switch:
The Technology of Electric Power
http://americanhistory.si.edu/csr/powering/backthrw.htm

"Electricity Industry Restructuring"
http://www.eere.energy.gov/EE/power_elec_restructuring.html


On the subject of deregulation (pro & con):

"Utility Deregulation for Beginners"
http://www.emec.com/aaaa/dereg/dereg1.htm

"Electric competition and choosing an energy supplier"
http://www.eei.org/future/competition/me.htm

"California Got it Wrong - Texas Got it Right"
http://www.leapnext.com/default.cfm?exec=Article.View&ArticleID=4809

"The Deregulation of the Electricity Industry:
A Primer" from cato.org
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-320es.html

"Deregulation: A Work in Progress"
http://www.gasindustries.com/articles/oct02c.htm

"Full Competition: EPSA's Focus"
http://www.epsa.org/about/overview.cfm?what=176

"Utilities Facts" from consumerwatchdog.org
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/utilities/fs/

"The Last Bad Idea" from LA Weekly
http://www.laweekly.com/ink/01/13/features-meyerson.php

search strategy:
"what is electricity", "how does"
electricity, power, explained
deregulation, utitities, 
"what is deregulation", competition, "bad idea"

I hope this helps.

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Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 03 May 2003 01:32 PDT

My first sentence should have read:

"... on this topic." 


Sorry about that.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by martinjay-ga on 03 May 2003 08:01 PDT

Looks good, I am going to take a look at it during
the week just to make sure we covered all the bases
then will get back to you.  So far I'd say we are solidly
heading for 5 star territory, but also will ask if there
are any other areas that didn't get covered.  Thanks, and
great work so far.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by martinjay-ga on 10 May 2003 23:49 PDT

Looks good, but final part.  Want to find better descriptions of the
machinery, such as transformers, generation assets, turbines,
towers, wood poles, etc. that would be used, and even possibly
the chemicals that are employed in a Gen to Retail system.
You have a five star coming, and this was the only part that
I was not completely satisfied with.  Thanks and good work.

---

Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 11 May 2003 00:21 PDT

Hi Martinjay,

Here are some more links that might meet your request:
http://www.georgiaemc.com/pdfs/media_center_pdf/4777_Path_of_Electricity.pdf

Electric Power Facilities - The Basic System
http://www.ece.umr.edu/links/power/electric.htm

How Does a Transformer Work?
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/how_it_works/transformer.html

It All Starts at the Power Plant
http://people.howstuffworks.com/power1.htm

Distribution Grid
http://people.howstuffworks.com/power2.htm

Distribution Bus
http://people.howstuffworks.com/power3.htm

Regulator Bank
http://people.howstuffworks.com/power4.htm

Taps
http://people.howstuffworks.com/power5.htm

HOW ARE TURBINES USED TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY?
http://www.newmarket-transformers.co.uk/info/how_8.html

Check out these links, and let me know what you think. It's getting
late where I am, and I can't do any more tonight, but I'll resume
tomorrow if you want.

Regards,
juggler

Thanks, and no need for anymore, you more then earned your rating.  This is
the first time I am giving a tip as well.  Might come back and ask for more,
but will pay more money for it.  A great value for 10 bucks - excellent work!!!!

Thanks for the tip.
-juggler