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Firstly, to generate electricity, you’ll require a fuel source, such as coal, gas, hydro power or wind.

In Australia, most of our electricity supply is generated from traditional fuels, such as coal and natural gas, with around 14 percent coming from renewable energy sources.¹

Regardless of the chosen fuel, most generators operate on the same proven principle: turn a turbine so that it spins magnets surrounded by copper wire, to get the flow of electrons across atoms, which in turn generates electricity.

Coal and gas work in similar ways; they are both burned to heat water, which creates steam and turns the turbine.

Renewable energy sources such as hydropower and wind operate slightly differently, with either the water or the wind being used to turn the turbine, and generate the electricity.

Solar photo voltaic panels take a different approach again: they generate electrical power by converting solar radiation into electricity using semi-conductors.

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You might have wondered at one point or another; what actually is electricity?

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You might have wondered at one point or another; what actually is electricity?

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It’s hard to escape; whether you look to nature and watch an electrical storm rolling in with its beautiful but powerful lightening strikes. Or, you simply go to your kitchen, flick on a light and open the fridge; electricity is a part of our everyday lives.

But to really understand what electricity actually is, we need to take a look at the science behind it at the atomic level.

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Atoms are small particles and put simply, they are the basic building blocks of everything around us, whether it is our chairs, desks or even our own body. Atoms are made up of even smaller elements, called protons, electrons and neutrons.

When electrical and magnetic forces move electrons from one atom to another, an electrical current is formed.

Take a look at this video to see electrons in action.

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In Australia, we get our electricity via a sophisticated networked grid.

Electricity leaves generators and travels along conductor wires on the networked grid to homes and businesses across the country. By the time electricity reaches you, it’s likely to have travelled hundreds of kilometres through the grid.

Australia’s National Electricity Market or the NEM is the largest interconnected power system in the world.

If you’re interested in exploring electricity option for your home, you can compare Origin’s electricity plans and see an estimated cost for your usage.