The development of transformers was vital to building an electrical distribution network allowing for

the processes of stepping up and stepping down voltage for the efficient transmission of electrical
energy. Without transformers, electrical transmission over long distances from the generator (power
plant) to the domestic or industrial consumers would be very costly, as the current running through
wires would experience resistance which transforms electrical energy in to heat energy, thus
incurring energy losses. In order to keep power losses low, the current must be manipulated to be at
its lowest which is when the voltage is high. According to the equation; P= IV, the derived equation
shows that it is true to the conservation of energy:

Furthermore, losses
would restrict transmission distances leading to unfair distribution of energy to favour urbanised
areas with limited infrastructure for more remote communities. Not only this, power stations and
generators would have to be situated relatively close to areas requiring electricity which may prove
to be an aesthetic eye sore, and contribute already high pollution levels in highly populated areas
contribute to environmental concerns like the clearing of land for generator cause detrimental
disruption of habitats and ecosystems. If electrical energy could not be transmitted efficiently over
large distances, more power stations with their associated pollution would be necessary to supply
power to their local areas.
With the development of the transformer, even very remote communities now have access to grid-
supplied high-voltage electricity which is stepped down locally by transformers. This has raised living
standards in rural communities through provision of, for instance, electric lighting, refrigeration and
air conditioning, and increased the scope of rural industries. Electricity has become very assessable
and has allowed for new industries to emerge, modes of communication to be improved and for
people have changed the way they live, as electricity to every home has become an affordable
necessity rather than a luxury. Large cities have been allowed to spread, because electricity is readily
available as an energy source, thanks to transformers. However the advancements in technology has
eliminated many unskilled increasing unemployment with associated impacts on government
welfare programs, family lifestyle and stability. The ability to step up or down voltage has made the
distribution of electricity more efficient and safer by stepping down high voltages for domestic
usage. Industry is no longer clustered around power stations or other sources of energy. Power
stations can be in remote locations and high-voltage electrical energy can be distributed almost
anywhere, to be stepped down near the point of use- This has allowed industries to be decentralised
and has relocated pollution away from homes.