How much electricity is lost in electricity transmission and distribution in the United States?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that annual electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) losses averaged about 5% of the electricity transmitted and distributed in the United States in 2017 through 2021.
EIA has estimates for total annual T&D losses in the State Electricity Profiles. Data for each state and for the entire United States are in Table 10: Supply and Disposition of Electricity of each profile. To find the table, scroll down a Profile page to find the link under Table 1 for Full data tables 1-17. Click on the link, and in the resulting screen see the link for an xls file. In the file, see the worksheet 10: Source-Disposition, and in the worksheet, see the row for estimated losses in the table.
To calculate T&D losses as a percentage, divide estimated losses by the result of total disposition minus direct use. Direct use electricity is the electricity generated mainly at non-utility facilities and that is not put onto the electricity transmission and distribution grid, and therefore direct use electricity does not contribute to T&D losses.
Learn more:
U.S. electricity flow diagram
Last updated: November 14, 2022, with most recent data available at the time of update.
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