Editing Electric power distribution (section)

=== Rural services ===
[[File:Red-tailed hawk on power pole-2033.jpg|thumb|High voltage power pole in rural [[Butte County, California]]]]
[[Rural electrification]] systems tend to use higher distribution voltages because of the longer distances covered by distribution lines (see [[Rural Electrification Administration]]). 7.2, 12.47, 25, and 34.5&nbsp;kV distribution is common in the United States; 11&nbsp;kV and 33&nbsp;kV are common in the UK, Australia and New Zealand; 11&nbsp;kV and 22&nbsp;kV are common in South Africa; 10, 20 and 35&nbsp;kV are common in China.<ref name="eolss">{{cite book|last1=Chan|first1=F|title=Electrical Engineering|chapter-url=http://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c05/e6-39a-06-01.pdf|access-date=12 March 2016|chapter=Electric Power Distribution Systems}}</ref> Other voltages are occasionally used.

Rural services normally try to minimize the number of poles and wires. It uses higher voltages (than urban distribution), which in turn permits use of galvanized steel wire. The strong steel wire allows for less expensive wide pole spacing. In rural areas a pole-mount transformer may serve only one customer. In [[New Zealand]], [[Australia]], [[Saskatchewan|Saskatchewan, Canada]], and [[South Africa]], [[Single-wire earth return]] systems (SWER) are used to electrify remote rural areas.

Three phase service provides power for large agricultural facilities, petroleum pumping facilities, water plants, or other customers that have large loads (three-phase equipment).
In North America, overhead distribution systems may be three phase, four wire, with a neutral conductor. Rural distribution system may have long runs of one phase conductor and a neutral.<ref>Donald G. Fink, H. Wayne Beatty (ed), '' Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers, Eleventh Edition'', McGraw Hill, 1978, {{ISBN|0-07-020974-X}}, page 18-17</ref>
In other countries or in extreme rural areas the neutral wire is connected to the ground to use that as a return (single-wire earth return).