What is a common consequence of high transmission losses?

High transmission losses typically lead to higher operational costs for electric utilities. When electricity is transmitted over long distances, some of the energy is lost as heat due to the resistance in the conductors. These losses mean that utilities need to generate more electricity to meet the demand at the consumer end, leading to increased fuel consumption and operational expenditures.

To ensure they can supply adequate power to end users, utilities may need to invest in additional generation capacity, which further escalates costs. Furthermore, as these losses increase, more resources may be needed for maintenance and upgrades to transmission infrastructure to mitigate losses, contributing to overall higher expenses.

While one might think that high transmission losses could prompt more efficient grid management or a push towards increased energy generation, in reality, the immediate result is a direct impact on the financial efficiency of the operation. Efforts to control or reduce these losses are a major focus for utilities, as they directly affect how much it costs to deliver power effectively.