The more you understand about how electricity flows on the farm, the better you will be able to monitor this essential component of farm operations. Although you should be a well-informed consumer of electricity, you do not need to become an expert. Representatives of Wisconsin Public Service are available to assist you anytime you believe you may be experiencing electrical problems, or when you're remodeling or building new facilities. Most electric current will use the path of least resistance to return to the source. Electrical systems and supply systems are grounded to the earth.
Grounding is necessary to ensure safety and reliability.
When electrical current cannot flow through a neutral conductor, due to some type of damage or defect in the circuit, more current will use a path through the earth to return to the power supply. This increases the NEV, possibly to levels that may be measurable in cattle contact areas on farms. How Electricity Flows Electric current always flows from a power supply to a point of utilization and then back to its source, completing a circuit as it moves along an electrical supply system. Every electrical supply system uses a neutral conductor to return the current to the supply source. In addition, this neutral conductor is grounded.