Electric power industry
![Electric power is transmitted on overhead lines like these, and also on underground high voltage cables.](/Images/godic/202501/10/NIGU_Strain_tower3054.JPG")
![Bolsward Substation, the Netherlands](/Images/godic/202501/10/Onderstation_110_kV_Bolsward_013054.JPG")
![Transmission lines in Romania of which the nearest is a Phase Transposition Tower](/Images/godic/202501/10/Romanian_electric_power_transmission_lines3054.jpg")
![High tension line in Montreal, Quebec, Canada](/Images/godic/202501/10/Pylône_haute_tension3054.JPG")
The electric power industry is the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric power to the general public. The electrical industry started with introduction of electric lighting in 1882. Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, growing economic and safety concerns lead to the regulation of the industry. Once an expensive novelty limited to the most densely populated areas, reliable and economical electric power has become a requirement for normal operation of all elements of developed economies.