When Did Electricity Become Common – Everything You Need To Know In 2023
Electricity has become such an essential part of our lives that it can be difficult to imagine living without electricity. From lighting our homes to powering electronic devices. It plays an integral role in contemporary society – but when did electricity become common in everyday life? In this article, “US Energy Discounts” will help you explore the history of electricity and its journey toward being ubiquitous in homes across the USA.
A History of Electricity in the US
Over centuries, millions of people worldwide have been fascinated with lightning. Many wondered how they could use this power to employ. However, in the 18th century, the pathway to the widespread use of electrical power began to develop.
1) Benjamin Franklin
You might have heard of the kite-related experiments of American founder and inventor Benjamin Franklin in 1752; Franklin flew a kite amid a storm to demonstrate that lightning was electric.
He sewed a key made of metal to the string. As he hoped it would happen, electrical energy generated by the clouds ran down the string, dampening it and giving him an electric shock. Franklin was fortunate not to be seriously injured in this experiment. However, it was a thrill to have confirmed his hypothesis.
2) Thomas Edison
Over the next 100 years, various scientists and inventors tried to discover a way to use electricity to produce light. In 1879, American inventor Thomas Edison was finally able to develop a reliable and long-lasting light bulb using electricity in his lab.
3) Tennessee Valley Authority
Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the legislation establishing Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on May 18, 1933. TVA is a federally-owned company in the United States that was created in 1933 to provide flood control, navigation, electric generation, fertilizer creation, and social and economic development in the Tennessee River Valley. This region was mainly to be hit during the Great Depression.
The TVA is the largest public power corporation, providing electric power to 8.5 million customers throughout the Tennessee Valley. It functions primarily as an electrical wholesaler, selling power to 158 retail distributors and 61 directly serving public or industrial customers. The power source is dams that generate energy from hydroelectric sources, fossil fuels, and nuclear power stations.
Future of the Electricity Timeline?
Due to the Climate Crisis, more emphasis is placed on renewable and sustainable energies. That is why renewable energy is currently the fastest-growing source of energy within the United States. Increasing by an astounding 67% between 2000 and 2016.
In fact, on June 10, 2020, it was announced that the United Kingdom celebrated two months entirely with green energy. For the very first time, this is a significant milestone in the energy timeline.
Various options are available for renewable energy, like hydro, wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, geothermal, or biomass. There are endless possibilities! Renewable power will become the primary energy source in the near next phase of the electric power timeline.
Besides being great for the planet, renewable energy has many other incredible advantages. A few of the benefits of the use of renewable energy in your home are:
- More affordable electricity bills: Once the initial cost of establishing a renewable energy system is paid, your energy costs will be drastically reduced.
- Earn money from the electricity you produce: The Government has an initiative known as the Feed-in Tariff scheme that gives you money for the energy you generate regardless of whether you utilize it.
- Reduce your carbon footprint: Reduce your carbon footprint by choosing renewable energy sources that don’t emit greenhouse gasses and air pollution into the atmosphere, such as solar or wind power. Renewable energies don’t contribute to climate change by emitting less carbon dioxide into the environment and can significantly lower your house’s carbon footprint.
Electricity Has Changed Our Lives
Electricity transformed how people lived. Thanks to electricity, people could work and live in previously barren areas; appliances like fridges, washing machines, and radios made life more convenient and efficient. Lights allowed people to perform long into the night, while air conditioning made life comfortable in extreme heat.
Conclusion
As previously discussed, electricity has come a long way since its days as electric fish power. From its initial beginnings as an exclusive luxury for only a few to becoming part of everyday American life, it has significantly altered our way of living and working lives.
As much as we take electricity for granted today, we must remember its origins and how did electricity become common. With renewable energy resources and smart grid technologies becoming ever-more advanced and available. They will remain an integral component of society for years.
