The electricity system

Abstract

The UK's electricity supply system works in much the same way as the supply of any other commodity. Electricity is 'manufactured' at power stations, and bulk supplies are transported across the high-voltage transmission network. Retailers ('suppliers') buy the bulk power and sell it on to domestic and commercial customers, to whom it is supplied via a low-voltage local network operated by a distribution network operator (DNO). The generators, high-voltage network operator (National Grid), DNOs and retailers are very different companies.