what is a substation

An electrical substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. It is a facility that allows the voltage of electricity to be transformed or switched. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions. They are integral features within the national electricity grid and enable electricity to be transmitted at different voltages, safely and effectively. Substations generally have switching, protection, and control equipment. The general layout of a substation consists of some number of electric lines coming into the facility, which connect to a series of some or many pieces of equipment before heading out to their destination. The roles of substations depend on which parts of the electrical grid are being connected together and the types, number, and reliability requirements of the eventual customers downstream.