Which voltage range describes typical distribution system operation?

• A. 600 volts
• B. 2000 volts up to 34,500 volts
• C. 120 volts
• D. 13,800 volts

Answer: (B)

Distribution systems operate at medium voltages between subtransmission and customer service, higher than what you see on a household circuit but lower than long-distance transmission. In practice, distribution voltages span roughly a few thousand volts up to about 34,500 volts. You’ll encounter feeders at numbers like 4 kV, 13.8 kV, 24.9 kV, and 34.5 kV, with transformers near customers stepping down to 120/240 V (or 277/480 V for commercial loads). That broad range—about 2,000 to 34,500 volts—best describes typical distribution system operation. The other options either refer to voltages far below distribution levels or to a single nominal distribution voltage, not the common operating envelope.