Electricity losses in numbers

From generation to delivery to the consumer there are two main types of energy losses:

• Technical Losses: transport-related power cables and electrical connections by imposing a resistance to current flow. In this case the loss is given by the dissipation of energy as heat;
• Non-technical Losses or Commercial Losses: Related to the process of commercialization of energy and involve reading errors, reading consumption, billing, and especially fraud and energy theft.

In 2011 the magnitude of these losses reached 15.41% of the total energy supplied in Brazil representing approximately BRL 7.3 billion (approximately USD 3.7 billion), with important effects on the value of the tariff and the consequent impact on public policy and the economic efficiency of the country.

In the United States, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimated losses in 261.99 TWh in 2010, representing more than 6% of the total energy supplied.

Sources:

Balanço Energético Nacional 2012
U.S. Energy Information Administration