Electricity is a form of energy. It can travel through metals and other substances called conductors, but it cannot travel through other substance - called insulators. Electricity is all about the flow of tiny particles called electrons. Some materials will allow it, while others won't. That allows scientists and engineers to make things that can channel electricity where they want it.

Electricity is also connected to magnetism. Whenever electricity flows, magnetism occurs.

Electricity occurs in nature, mainly in clouds, where it is responsible for lightning. But the electricity we think of as ordinary useful electricity has to be made, which is known as generated. Mostly this is done by using some other form of energy, such as turning blades in a wind turbine, or water falling or the production of steam by burning coal, oil or gas to boil water.

Electricity cannot be stored (batteries do not store electricity, they contain chemicals which produce electricity when they are connected to a circuit). That is why power stations have to match what they produce to what people need second by second. It is the main reason why wind, solar and wave energy will never meet our needs all the time.