1. Inside the power plant, coal, oil or gas is burned in a big boiler to create steam. If the plant is hydro-electric, water is used.

2. The steam (or water for hydro plants) is used to spin a big fan, known as a turbine The turbine turns a big magnet inside a generator like an electric motor that works in reverse - to create an electrical current.

3. The electricity is sent through a transformer to make it the right voltage. This gives the electricity enough pressure to travel long distances.

4. Big high-voltage transmission lines carry the electricity to your city or suburb.

5. It passes through sub-stations, where the voltage is lowered to make it safe to use in our homes.

>6. It travels through smaller power lines to your house.

7. It passes through an electricity meter that measures how much your family uses.

8. The electricity goes to the switch board in your home, where it is divided into different circuits for each area of your house.

>9. The electricity travels through wires inside the walls to the outlets and switches all over your house.