We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Ilya Grinberg

This course familiarizes you with standards and policies of the electric utility industry, and provides you with basic vocabulary used in the business. It introduces the electric power system, from generation of the electricity all the way to the wall plug. You will learn about the segments of the system, and common components like power cables and transformers.

Read more

This course familiarizes you with standards and policies of the electric utility industry, and provides you with basic vocabulary used in the business. It introduces the electric power system, from generation of the electricity all the way to the wall plug. You will learn about the segments of the system, and common components like power cables and transformers.

This course is for individuals considering a career in the energy field (who have a high school diploma, at minimum, and basic knowledge of mathematics), and existing energy sector employees with less than three years of experience who have not completed similar training and would benefit from a course of foundational industry concepts.

The course is a combination of online lectures, videos, readings and discussions.

This is the first course in the Energy Production, Distribution & Safety specialization that explores various facets of the power sector, and features a culminating project involving creation of a roadmap to achieve a self-established, energy-related professional goal. To learn more about the specialization, check out a video overview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yh9qIYiUDk.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Basic Electricity
Electricity is a term that covers all the phenomena caused either by static electric charge or by the movement of charge (current) and the electrical and magnetic fields associated with that. This module looks at: Nature and Effects of Electricity; Basic Electrical Properties and Simple Circuits.
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a foundational overview of standards and policies in the electric utility industry
Introduces fundamental concepts in the electric power system, from generation to distribution
Ideal for individuals pursuing a career in the energy field or existing employees seeking foundational knowledge
Combines online lectures, videos, readings, and discussions for diverse learning experiences
Explores basic electricity, a crucial concept in understanding electrical systems
Covers generation, transmission, and distribution, providing insights into the flow of electricity
Delves into system design and switching, essential aspects of electrical system management

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Foundational introduction to electric power systems

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in understanding the basics of electric power systems. Students find it particularly relevant for those considering a career in the energy field or existing employees needing foundational knowledge. Reviewers appreciate that it covers key segments from generation to distribution and introduces common components and industry vocabulary. While many find it an excellent starting point, some learners with prior engineering background found the content to be too introductory and wished for more depth on certain topics like renewables or specific components.
Lectures and materials are clear.
"The online lectures were easy to follow and well-explained."
"Instructor explained concepts clearly and concisely."
"Combination of lectures and readings worked well to convey the material."
Highly relevant for energy industry careers.
"Relevant for anyone considering an energy career or working in the field."
"Helps with understanding basic vocabulary used in the business."
"Useful for energy sector employees with less than 3 years of experience."
Provides a strong introduction to power systems.
"Great introduction to the electric power system covering basics."
"It covers the foundational industry concepts as described."
"Helped me understand the basics of generation, transmission, and distribution."
"A really good starting point for understanding how electricity gets from the plant to the wall."
Some topics could benefit from more depth.
"Could go into more detail on specific components like transformers."
"Would appreciate deeper dives on renewable energy technologies and smart grid risks."
"Good overview, but not enough for in-depth understanding of complex topics."
May be too basic for experienced learners.
"Too introductory if you already have some engineering background."
"Found some sections covered concepts I already knew well."
"Good for absolute beginners, less so for experienced pros."
"If you have a degree in electrical engineering, this might feel very basic."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Electric Power Systems with these activities:
Review your notes and assignments from previous related coursework
Helps you to refresh your memory on the concepts you learned in previous coursework, making it easier to build on that knowledge in this course.
Browse courses on Electrical Power Systems
Show steps
  • Gather your notes and assignments from previous related coursework.
  • Review the materials and identify any areas that you need to refresh your memory on.
Review basic electrical principles
Brings basic electrical principles to the forefront of your mind, making it easier to follow along with new material.
Browse courses on Electricity
Show steps
  • Review the basics of electricity, such as voltage, current, and resistance.
  • Solve simple electrical problems using Ohm's law.
  • Build a simple electrical circuit.
Work through online tutorials on electrical power systems
Provides a structured way to learn about the different components of an electrical power system and how they work together.
Browse courses on Electrical Power Systems
Show steps
  • Find online tutorials on electrical power systems that cover the topics you are interested in.
  • Watch the tutorials and take notes on the key concepts.
  • Try out the examples and exercises provided in the tutorials.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Participate in a study group or online forum
Provides an opportunity to interact with other students and learn from their perspectives.
Browse courses on Electrical Power Systems
Show steps
  • Find a study group or online forum for students taking the same course.
  • Participate in discussions and ask questions.
  • Help other students with their questions.
Solve practice problems on electrical power system components
Strengthens your understanding of the concepts you are learning in the course and helps you to identify areas where you need more practice.
Browse courses on Electrical Power Systems
Show steps
  • Find practice problems on electrical power system components.
  • Solve the problems using the concepts you have learned in the course.
  • Check your answers and identify any areas where you need more practice.
Create a presentation on a topic related to electrical power systems
Helps you to develop your communication skills and your understanding of the topic.
Browse courses on Electrical Power Systems
Show steps
  • Choose a topic related to electrical power systems that you are interested in.
  • Research the topic and gather information.
  • Create a presentation that is informative and engaging.
Design a simple electrical power system
Allows you to apply the concepts you have learned in the course to a real-world problem.
Browse courses on Electrical Power Systems
Show steps
  • Identify the requirements of the electrical power system.
  • Select the appropriate components for the system.
  • Design the layout of the system.

Career center

Learners who complete Electric Power Systems will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Transmission and Distribution Engineer
A Transmission and Distribution Engineer designs, develops, and maintains electrical power transmission and distribution systems. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a foundation in electric power systems, which is essential for understanding the design, development, and maintenance of electrical power transmission and distribution systems.
Substation Engineer
A Substation Engineer designs, develops, and maintains electrical power substations. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a foundation in electric power systems, which is essential for understanding the design, development, and maintenance of electrical power substations.
Renewable Energy Engineer
A Renewable Energy Engineer designs, develops, and maintains renewable energy systems. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a foundation in electric power systems, which is essential for understanding the design, development, and maintenance of renewable energy systems.
Smart Grid Engineer
A Smart Grid Engineer designs, develops, and maintains smart grid systems. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a foundation in electric power systems, which is essential for understanding the design, development, and maintenance of smart grid systems.
Electrical Engineer
An Electrical Engineer designs, develops, tests, and supervises the installation of electrical systems and components. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a foundation in electric power systems, which is essential for understanding the design, development, testing, and installation of electrical systems and components.
Power Systems Engineer
A Power Systems Engineer designs, develops, and maintains electrical power systems. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a foundation in electric power systems, which is essential for understanding the design, development, and maintenance of electrical power systems.
Energy Researcher
An Energy Researcher conducts research on energy-related topics. This course may be useful for this role by helping you build a foundation in electric power systems, which can be helpful for understanding the energy-related topics that are researched.
Energy Scientist
An Energy Scientist studies energy-related phenomena. This course may be useful for this role by helping you build a foundation in electric power systems, which can be helpful for understanding the energy-related phenomena that are studied.
Engineering Project Manager
An Engineering Project Manager plans, manages, and executes engineering projects. This course may be useful for this role by helping you build a foundation in electric power systems, which can be helpful for understanding the technical aspects of engineering projects in the energy field.
Energy Teacher
An Energy Teacher teaches energy-related topics. This course may be useful for this role by helping you build a foundation in electric power systems, which can be helpful for understanding the energy-related topics that are taught.
Energy Analyst
An Energy Analyst analyzes energy data to identify trends and make recommendations for improving energy efficiency. This course may be useful for this role by helping you build a foundation in electric power systems, which can be helpful for understanding the data that is analyzed.
Energy Consultant
An Energy Consultant advises clients on energy-related matters. This course may be useful for this role by helping you build a foundation in electric power systems, which can be helpful for understanding the energy-related issues that clients face.
Energy Policy Analyst
An Energy Policy Analyst analyzes energy policies and makes recommendations for improving energy policy. This course may be useful for this role by helping you build a foundation in electric power systems, which can be helpful for understanding the energy policies that are analyzed.
Energy Manager
An Energy Manager manages energy consumption for a company or organization. This course may be useful for this role by helping you build a foundation in electric power systems, which can be helpful for understanding the energy consumption of a company or organization.
Energy Planner
An Energy Planner plans for future energy needs. This course may be useful for this role by helping you build a foundation in electric power systems, which can be helpful for understanding the future energy needs of a region or country.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Electric Power Systems.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of electric power systems, covering topics such as power generation, transmission, distribution, and utilization. It valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of electrical engineering.
This textbook provides a detailed analysis of power systems, covering topics such as system modeling, power flow analysis, and fault analysis. It valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of electrical engineering.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of electric power transmission and distribution systems. It covers topics such as transmission line parameters, power flow analysis, and substation design. It valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of electrical engineering.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of renewable energy systems, covering topics such as solar energy, wind energy, and biomass energy. It valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of renewable energy.
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of electric power distribution systems, covering topics such as distribution line design, substation design, and power quality. It valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of electric power distribution.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of electric power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. It covers topics such as power plant design, transmission line design, and substation design. It valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of electric power engineering.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser