Which system level is commonly operated at 230 kV?

• A. Distribution Systems
• B. Transmission Systems
• C. Industrial Customer Systems
• D. Generation Systems

Answer: (B)

Bulk power transfer over long distances uses high-voltage transmission lines. Raising the voltage and lowering the current reduces I^2R losses and allows the power to be moved efficiently with smaller, more economical conductors. A voltage like 230 kV is a typical backbone transmission voltage used to connect generation sources with load centers across wide areas.

Generation sites produce electricity at relatively low voltages and are stepped up to transmission levels for long-distance transport. Distribution systems, on the other hand, operate at much lower voltages and are responsible for delivering power to end users after stepping down from transmission. Industrial customer systems may use subtransmission or distribution voltages rather than transmission-level voltages like 230 kV.

So, 230 kV is characteristic of transmission systems, the backbone that carries bulk power between generation and distribution.