Grid Elements
The physical pieces of the distribution grid, modeled as first-class entities
Grid elements are the components of the distribution grid — substations, feeders, transformers, protective devices, lines, and poles. Texture models them as first-class entities, distinct from devices: a meter or battery is a device, while a transformer or substation is a grid element with its own connectivity, metadata, and the devices that roll up to it.
This page is the map of those concepts — what each element is and where to go for the details. The mechanics that are common to all of them (placement, hierarchy, detail pages, list views, and aggregations) are covered in Grid Topology & GIS.
What counts as a grid element#
The grid-element types Texture models, and where each is covered in depth:
| Element | What it is | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Substation | The head of a local network — the source all downstream power maps back to. | Grid Topology & GIS · SCADA |
| Feeder | The outgoing circuit just below the substation that distributes power through the network. | Grid Topology & GIS |
| Transformer | Steps voltage down toward customers; load is analyzed against its rating. | Transformer Loading |
| Protective / overcurrent devices | Reclosers, fuses, and breakers along the network. | Grid Topology & GIS · SCADA |
| Lines & poles/structures | Conductors (with phase and length) and the structures that carry them. | Grid Topology & GIS |
What's common to all grid elements#
Whatever the type, grid elements share the same core behaviors — all detailed in Grid Topology & GIS:
- Placement & hierarchy — built from GIS and connectivity data, so you can trace upstream to the substation and downstream to meters.
- Detail pages — every element has its own page with aggregate telemetry and the devices that roll up to it.
- List views & aggregations — list every element of a type with its current metric, plus top-level rollups (element values are computed from downstream meter readings, since grid elements rarely report their own telemetry).
- Navigation — find and filter elements on the map in Explore.
Grid elements vs. devices#
The distinction matters because the two are modeled differently. Grid elements are infrastructure — they generally have no direct telemetry of their own, so their values are computed by rolling up the devices beneath them. Devices are the metered or controllable assets that attach to the grid (meters, batteries, EVs, inverters, thermostats) and carry the actual readings. They connect through the grid hierarchy.
:::note Assets that attach to the grid Two device types are central to grid operations and have their own pages: Meters (the AMI meters whose readings roll up the hierarchy) and Utility-Scale Batteries (front-of-the-meter storage). They're devices, not grid elements, but they live on the grid and feed the element-level aggregations. :::
Where to go next#
- Grid Topology & GIS — how elements are placed, the hierarchy, detail pages, and list views & aggregations.
- SCADA — near-real-time substation measurements.
- Transformer Loading — transformer load versus nameplate rating.
- Meters — AMI meter data and how it rolls up.
- Explore — navigate and filter grid elements on the map.