Copper is abundantly available in nature, is an excellent conductor of electricity and can be readily spliced. Copper conductors exist in one of three forms: soft drawn (or annealed), medium drawn and hard drawn. Soft-drawn copper conductors are commonly used in short transmission line spans and to ground electrical systems. They are flexible and resistant to breaking even under high stress. Medium-drawn copper conductors are used for medium-range distribution lines, while hard-drawn copper conductors are used in longer spans (greater than 200 feet) and are the strongest of the three. Their strength, however, makes them inflexible and often difficult to work with.
