Which of the following describes the role of the grounding wire?

The grounding wire serves as a safety path to earth, which is crucial for the protection of both people and equipment. In the event of a fault, such as a short circuit, the grounding wire directs potentially harmful electrical currents safely into the ground, reducing the risk of electric shock or fire. This grounding mechanism plays a vital role in maintaining the electrical safety of systems by ensuring that any faults or excessive voltages do not pose a hazard.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of a grounding wire. For example, carrying normal operating current is typically the role of conductors in a circuit rather than the grounding wire. Storing energy for backup systems is unrelated, as grounding wires do not hold electrical energy. Similarly, controlling voltage spikes is primarily the responsibility of surge protection devices, and while grounding helps in managing electrical conditions, it does not directly control voltage spikes.