View source for Losses in electrical systems

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In an [[electrical network|electrical]] or [[electronic circuit]] or [[power system]] part of the energy in play is dissipated by unwanted effects, including energy lost by unwanted [[Joule heating|heating of resistive components]] (electricity is also used for the [[electric heating|intention of heating]], which is not a loss), the effect of [[parasitic element (electrical networks)|parasitic elements]] ([[electrical resistance|resistance]], [[capacitance]], and [[inductance]]), [[skin effect]], [[transformer#Energy losses|losses in the windings and cores of transformers]] due to resistive heating and magnetic losses caused by [[eddy current]]s, [[hysteresis]],<ref name="PL"/> unwanted [[electromagnetic radiation|radiation]], [[dielectric loss]], [[corona discharge]], and other effects. There are also losses during [[electric power transmission]].

In addition to these losses of energy, there may be non-technical loss of revenue and profit, leading to electrical energy generated not being paid for, primarily due to theft. These losses include [[electricity meter|meter]] tampering and bypassing, arranged false meter readings, faulty meters, and un-metered supply. Non-technical losses are reported to account for up to 40% of the total electricity distributed in some countries.<ref name="Glauner-Meiral-Valtchev-State-Bettinger_2017"/> Technical and human errors in meter readings, data processing and billing may occur,<ref name="Glauner-Meiral-Valtchev-State-Bettinger_2017"/> and may lead to either over-charging<ref name="Edwards_2017"/> or under-charging.<ref name="Evans_2016"/>

==Parasitic losses in electricity production==
With regard to [[electricity production]], "parasitic loss" it is any of the loads or devices powered by the generator, not contributing to net electric yield. It is found by subtracting productive yield from gross yield:

:<math>{GY} - {PY} = {PL}</math>

where:
* GY is gross electric yield (the output of the generator);
* PY is productive yield (the electricity which is made available to external electric loads)
* PL is parasitic load.

== See also ==
* [[Electric power transmission]]
* [[Standby power]]
* [[Leakage (electronics)]]

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="PL">{{cite web |title=Power losses in wound components |newspaper=Info.ee.surrey.ac.uk |url=http://info.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Workshop/advice/coils/power_loss.html |access-date=2016-01-15}}</ref>
<ref name="Glauner-Meiral-Valtchev-State-Bettinger_2017">{{cite journal |author-first1=Patrick |author-last1=Glauner |author-first2=Jorge Augusto |author-last2=Meira |author-first3=Petko |author-last3=Valtchev |author-first4=Radu |author-last4=State |author-first5=Franck |author-last5=Bettinger |date=2017 |title=The Challenge of Non-Technical Loss Detection using Artificial Intelligence: A Survey |journal=International Journal of Computational Intelligence Systems |volume=10 |issue=1 |doi=10.2991/ijcis.2017.10.1.51 |arxiv=1606.00626 |pages=760–775|s2cid=9850103 }}</ref>
<ref name="Edwards_2017">{{cite news |title=Nearly 1.3m energy customers overcharged by £102m because of company billing errors, research shows |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=2017-08-16 |author-first=Matty |author-last=Edwards |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/energy-customers-overcharged-102m-company-billing-errors-research-ofgem-gas-a7895531.html |access-date=2018-12-31}}</ref>
<ref name="Evans_2016">{{cite news |title=Millions hit by shock energy bills by suppliers who demand thousands after making mistakes |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=2016-03-02 |author-first=Tara |author-last=Evans |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/bills-and-utilities/gas-electric/millions-hit-by-shock-energy-bills-by-suppliers-who-demand-thous/ |access-date=2018-12-31}}</ref>
}}

[[Category:Electric power]]


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