Most electric energy is generated at a voltage in the range of which values?

• A. 2400 - 4160
• B. 7200 - 12470
• C. 13200 - 24000
• D. 34500 - 161000

Answer: (C)

Electric energy is produced at moderate voltages and then stepped up for transmission. Generators are designed to produce a voltage that’s high enough to keep currents manageable, but not so high that insulation and equipment become impractical. That balance places generation commonly in the mid-teens to mid-twenties of kilovolts. In practice, many generators produce around 13.2 to 24 kV, which is then stepped up by transformers to much higher transmission voltages for efficient long-distance delivery. That’s why the range of 13.2 to 24 kV best fits where most generation occurs. The other ranges are typical of distribution or high-voltage transmission, not generation itself.