Who Discovered Electricity? History of Energy and Power

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Who invented electricity?

The discovery of electricity happened over several centuries, going back to Ancient Egypt and the understanding of electric fish, which produced a shocking and numbing effect on skin. Electricity as we know it today wasn’t invented, but it was discovered by many scientists and philosophers over the years, including Benjamin Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin was never a U.S. president, but he is considered one of the Founding Fathers and spent years researching electricity. In 1752, Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment, where he attached a small metal key to a damp kite string and flew the kit during a storm. As a result, electrical sparks jumped down the kite string.

Other scientists, including Michael Faraday, Alexander Graham Bell, and Nikola Tesla, contributed to the understanding of electricity. Through years of research, electricity evolved into the power source we know today.

Invention of the lightbulb

Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb, but he did improve on the work of many other inventors. Edison’s experiments produced the incandescent electric light bulb we are familiar with today. In 1878, Edison founded the Edison Electric Light Company in New York City. He hosted the first public demonstration of his incandescent light bulb in 1879.

Edison made several other important contributions to the electricity industry. In 1879, he began an electric utility to compete with utilities servicing gas lights. He later patented a system for distributing electricity. His company, Edison Illuminating Company, was the first investor-owned electric utility.

How does electricity work?

Electricity is more complicated than a key on a kite string. In a nutshell, electricity is created when electrons move between atoms. Every atom is made up of positively and negatively charged particles called protons or electrons. Electrons carry a negative electrical charge and remain inside shells, which can hold a number of electrons. Some shells are close to the nucleus (which sits in the center of an atom), while others are farther away. A shell’s distance from the nucleus determines how many electrons it holds.

Electrons farther from the nucleus have a weaker force of attraction to protons, which carry a positive charge. When a force is applied and the outermost electrons are pushed out of orbit to another atom, they create an electrical charge. We can harness the electrical charge using a conductor (like a copper wire or a magnet) to send it from the electrons to whatever we want to power. 

Electricity in modern day

Electricity today is generated and supplied on a massive scale. According to Statista, there are over 1,600 electric utility companies in the U.S. providing electricity to more than 140 million customers. For the most part, utility companies own energy plants, which generate electricity and deliver it to customers through power grids.

Electricity companies

Your location determines the role your energy company plays in delivering electricity to your home. Most states have a regulated energy market, meaning one company offers electric service in the area — typically known as the utility company. Some states have a deregulated energy market, meaning residents can choose their electricity company from a variety of options. The idea behind deregulation is that it opens the market to competition and drives down energy prices.

Energy companies in deregulated areas go by a few different names, including retail energy providers (REPs), energy services companies (ESCOs), or alternate retail electricity suppliers (ARES). Some states also offer natural gas deregulation or deregulation of both electricity and natural gas. Our guide to deregulated markets provides more detail about deregulation in different states.

How does the electrical grid work?

In most areas, utility companies maintain electrical grid infrastructure and power lines in their service areas. The electrical grid definition is a connected network of power lines and infrastructure that move electricity from generators to homes and businesses. 

The following steps break down how electricity moves from power plants and generators to your home.

1. Electricity is generated in power stations using one or several power sources, like coal, nuclear power, natural gas, wind, or solar.
2. The generated electricity goes into the power grid and moves through power lines to your local area.
3. Once in your area, electricity is “stepped down” at a substation, meaning the voltage is reduced to a safer level through transformers.
4. Service poles (the poles connecting power lines) lower the voltage again until it’s a safe level for residential use.
5. Electricity passes through your home’s meter, which measures your electricity usage. From your meter, electricity powers the lights, devices, and appliances in your home.

Some state electrical grids operate differently. The Texas electrical grid is the best example because it functions independently from the major grids servicing the rest of the country. This means the Texas electrical grid doesn’t use power generated in other states or send electricity to neighboring states.

The California electric grid differs from Texas because it is connected to a regional multi-state grid system. If energy demand in California spikes and there isn’t enough electricity supply, California can pull power from its neighbors. Most states in the U.S. have an interconnected grid system similar to California. Electricity grids vary by state based on legislation, energy demand, and several other factors.

Types of electricity to power your home

States generate electricity from a variety of power sources. Nationally, natural gas tends to be the largest source of power based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Common sources of electricity include:

• Coal. Burning coal is one of the oldest methods of electricity generation. Using coal to produce electricity is problematic because it releases greenhouse gasses (specifically carbon dioxide), which contribute to global warming. Across the U.S., many states have renewable energy standards and goals to lower their reliance on coal.
• Natural gas. Natural gas is the nation’s most common power source. It accounts for a large percentage of generated electricity states like Delaware, Rhode Island, and Louisiana. Natural gas is considered a cleaner power source than coal, but it still produces methane, another greenhouse gas. 
• Nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is becoming more popular across the U.S. because of its smaller carbon footprint. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), nuclear energy has been responsible for a fifth of the national power supply every year since 1990, making it one of the most reliable power sources.
• Solar. Power from the sun has long been harnessed for electrical use. Utility-scale solar power makes up the majority of solar production in the U.S. However, residential solar systems are quickly growing in popularity. California, Texas, and Florida produce the most solar power nationally.
• Wind. Wind turbines capture energy from wind to convert into electricity. At the national scale, wind energy accounts for a little more than 14% of total electricity generation. Iowa typically produces more wind energy than any other state.
• Hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, and petroleum. These power sources are smaller contributors to the electrical mix in most states, with some exceptions. For example, petroleum accounts for most of Hawaii’s energy generation but is a small fraction of the mix in other states. A portion of your electricity could come from these power sources as well.

Electric vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a more common component in the electricity infrastructure. EVs are powered by batteries, which you can charge using electricity from your home. You can also charge an EV at a public charging station.

EVs offer significant fuel savings over time. As EVs continue to grow in popularity, some experts worry about how they will impact electricity demand and whether they will put a strain on power grids. Improving fuel efficiency, battery range, and EV infrastructure will be a necessary step in order to support nationwide EV adoption.