An electrical substation is typically a secondary station connected to an electrical distribution, generation or transmission station. It is used for changing or regulating voltage and measuring the quality of electric power passing through circuits. Electric power can flow through a number of electric substations between the power generating plant and the consumer.
A switching station is a particular type of substation where energy is routed either from different sources or to different customers. For example, a switching station near an energy generating facility may be able to switch some or all of its energy flow from one region to another as needed or shut down transmission altogether in the event of a serious problem.