Definitions for "Primary Service"
The service or the program, which is tuned in
Service delivered to a customer at distribution voltage and stepped down to utilization voltage on the customer's property.
Primary Service is electrical service that is metered before the transformer (which will "step down" the voltage to a usable level). Utility customers who receive Primary Power, usually own or rent their own transformers, rather than have the utility provide them. When electrical service is provided through this type of metering, the meter is measuring raw power rather than transformed power. Electrical power, in order to be useful, must be converted to the correct voltage for the intended application. This is accomplished through transformers. When this type of conversion occurs, there is a slight loss of electrical energy through heat that is a by-product of the conversion process or transformation. Primary Electrical service is less expensive than Secondary Service, which is more common.