cost to produce and global warming also.
Transmission and
Distribution
Losses (Power)
Jaiveer Kesria
Department of Electrical Engineering
Universal Institute of Technology ,Garhi
Hisar, Haryana, India
jkjaiveer@gmail.com
Abstract - Power generated in power stations pass
through large and complex networks like
transformers, overhead line, cables and other
equipment and reaches to the end users. It is fact that
the amount of electrical energy generated by power
station does not match with the amount distributed to
the consumers. Some percentage of the electrical
energy is lost in the distribution network. This
difference in the generated and distributed amount of
electricity is known as transmission and distribution
loss. Transmission and Distribution loss are the
amounts that are not paid for by users.
Power transmission and distribution losses in India
were 21.97% as of 2010. Its highest value over the
past 39 years was 28.65% in 2001, while its lowest
value was 16.36% in 1971. Information collected
from an RTI query regarding the transmission and
distribution (T&D) losses has revealed how Haryana
lost energy worth at least Rs 4,500 crores in the
past one year on account of line losses and power
theft. Haryana hit a low in 2002-3 with a 34 % loss
but showed consistent improvement in the past few
years when the losses have hovered around 26%. It is
very essential that immediate steps are initiated to
have an assessment of the realistic T &D losses in
each of the states. The central or the state
governments should draw plans to provide financial
support to the utilities for installations of meters on at
least all the distribution transformers in a phased
manner. We can reduce Losses by mitigating power
theft. Publicity campaigns should be carried out to
make the consumer aware of the high penalties on the
unauthorized use of electricity.
Key Words – Energy, Power, Electricity Act.
I. INTRODUCTION
Power is generated for the consumption of the
consumer. Distribution of power is the final and
most important link in the power supply chain and
most concerned part of the electricity sector.
According to Power Grid Corporation of India
Limited (PGCIL) current power distribution losses
are about 30%. Due to the losses in power
transmission and distribution, it also increases the
Privatization and deregulation also produces new
challenges to the distribution systems. The
distribution systems doesn’t received the
technological impact as the generation and the
transmission whereas about 30% to 40% of the
total investment in the electricity sector go to the
distribution systems. The developing countries
loose their power about 20% of the generation. In
India, the transmission and distribution losses are
about 23% in 2008. For a loss reduction program in
transmission and distribution system, it is must to
for us to use effective and efficient computational
tools that allows the loss in each different network
element for the reduction of losses.[1]
The transmission and distribution losses can be
expressed mathematically as follows:
(EIF(KWH)) − (BEC(KWH))
𝑇 & 𝐷 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 =
𝐸𝐼(𝐾𝑊𝐻) × 100
T & D :-Transmission and Distribution
EIF:-Energy input to feeder
BEC:-Billed energy to consumers
EI:- Energy input
We all know that all energy supplied to the
consumers doesn’t reach the end consumer. A
specific value of energy is lost in the transmission
and the distribution system. The transmission and
distribution losses are of two types:
1. Technical Losses.
2. Non- Technical Losses.
As per TERI these losses are calculated as high as
50%. According to SBI capital markets, the
transmission and distribution losses are calculated
around 58% of the generation. In advanced
countries of the world the transmission and
distribution losses ranges from 4 - 12%. Due to the
population growth and economic development in
India, energy consumption has been increasing at
one of the fastest rates in the world in the recent
years. India;s ranking is fifth among the world in
terms of primary energy consumption. India
accounts for about 3.5% of the world commercial
energy demand. According to a study carried by
EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) of USA,
the losses in various Transmission and Distribution
system usually are of the order as indicated in
Table 1.
 TABLE І
The losses in various elements of the T&D system
Supply System Power Losses
Minimum Maximum Step-up transformers
& EHV transmission system 0.5 – 1.0
Transformation to intermediate voltage
level, transmission system & step down to 1.5-3.0
sub-transmission voltage level
Sub-transmission system & step-down to 2.0-4.5
distribution voltage level
Distribution lines and service 3.0-7.0
connections
Total losses 7.0-15.5
A. Technical Losses
Technical losses in any power system occurs due to
the physical properties of the components we use
in that power system. Technical losses are the
natural losses occurred by the internal action of the
power system. Technical losses consists of mainly
dissipation of power in the power system
component like measurement system, power
transformers, transmission lines etc. the technical
losses of any power system are possible to compute
but the losses can’t be reduced to zero, they only
can reduced up to an optimum level. In the
distribution system, technical losses occur due to
heat dissipation resulting from current passing
through conductors and from magnetic losses in
transformers. Technical losses occur due to the
current flow in the network and produce the
following types of losses :-
 Losses due to poor standard of
equipments.
 Harmonics distortion.
 Copper losses are due to I2R losses that
are inherent in all inductors.
 Unbalanced loading.
 Dielectric losses.
 Losses due to overloading and low
voltage.
 Improper earthing at consumer end.
 Induction and radiation losses.
 Long single phase lines.
B. Non – Technical Losses
Non – Technical losses are sometimes also called
as “commercial losses”. These losses occurs due to
the external actions of any power system or by the
loads or some other factors that are not computed
in the technical losses. The technical losses occurs
due to the instrumental errors. But on the other
hand non – technical losses occurs due to power
theft, unmetered energy, metering inaccuracies.
Losses due to metering inaccuracies may be
defined as the difference between the amount of
energy delivered through the meters and the
amount registered by the meters. The non –
technical losses are not easy to calculate but these
losses can be estimated by firstly calculate the
technical losses and then subtract that technical
losses from the total losses.
The non – technical losses are very important to
control because these losses cover a large
percentage of the total losses of a power system.
Administrative errors as well as unauthorized
connections are the other reasons for the non –
technical losses. On transmission level, non –
technical losses are rare and can be neglected. The
most probable reasons for the non – technical
losses are as follows :-
 Non – payment by consumers.
 Stealing by bypassing the meter.
 Errors in technical losses computation.
 By just ignoring the unpaid bills.
 Tampering with meters.
 Errors in meter reading and billing.
 Tapping on LT lines.
 Faulty energy meters or un-metered
supply.
 Arranging false readings by bribing meter
readers.
C. Electricity Act
A comprehensive Electricity Bill was drafted in
2000 following a wide consultative process in
recognizing the need for the reform process
covering the entire facets of the electricity sector
comprising generation, transmission and
distribution. After various obstacles, the bill finally
enacted on 10 June 2003. It replaces the Indian
Electricity Act 1910, Electricity (supply) Act 1948
and the Electricity Commissions Act 1998. The
Electricity Act 2003 states that the regulatory
commissions shall regulate tariff and the issue of
licenses. The SEBs will be restructured into
separate generation, transmission and distribution
entities. The Electricity Act 2003 states mandates
license – free thermal generation, non-
discriminatory open access of the transmission
system and gradual implementation of open access
in the distribution system.
D. Remedial Actions
There are various remedies for the transmission
and distribution losses which are as follows :-
 Avoiding overloading of transformers.
 Resizing of conductors.
 Ensuring a constant power factor to
industrial users.
 Relocation of distribution transformers.
 Installation of capacitor banks.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
 “J.P. Navani” describes in his paper that
India faces very huge shortage of
electrical energy. He states that these
shortages had a very detrimental effect on
the overall economic growth of the
country. The total losses equals to the
technical losses plus non – technical
losses. The total losses can also be defined
as the difference between the metered
units of electricity entering the
distribution network and those leaving the
network paid for through electricity
accounts, whether estimated or metered,
in a well-defined period of time. Private
companies become more involved in the
distribution segment of the electricity
industry. Thus this need is particularly
important in developing countries, where
total losses are generally high, especially
prior to the incorporation of the private
sector. The problem is that it is precisely
in these situations where needed data for
accurately estimating the total losses and
particularly their breakdown into technical
and non – technical components are
generally lacking. I have taken a two bus
system with one bus as slack bus and load
is on another bus. The load profiles of
simple industrial area and residential area
has been taken. The power factor
contributions chosen here are negative
because the NTL load is assumed to be
inductive. The readings of one full day
have been taken. Then a case study of one
small village has been carried out to
determine the extent of non-technical
losses in that area. Then their difference is
used to determine the extent of non-
technical losses in that area. The main
scope of future work is by the use of
newer technologies to increase
measurement capabilities. Non-technical
losses (NTL) in all forms are very real and
significant problems for utilities
companies.[1]
 “Mohsin Mahmood” states that Energy
losses occur in the process of supplying
electricity to consumers due to technical
and commercial losses. This paper
presents a study on technical losses in
distribution system and analysis of the
impact of losses in power sector. In this
paper we studied about the technical and
nontechnical losses in distribution system.
As we see the transformer, its efficiency
depends upon the operating load.it has
two type of losses: no-load loss and load
loss. no-load loss is also called core loss
& it occurs when the transformer is
energized, it does not vary with load.
Load loss is called as copper loss & it is
the power loss on primary and secondary
windings .we can reduce the losses by
locating the transformer closed to the load
center. The additional energy needs to be
produced and transferred to cover the
technical losses. By installing the
capacitor bank, resizing of conductors,
shortening the distances and by phase
balancing, the losses can be reduced.[2]
III. CONCLUSION
In this paper we had studied about the transmission
and distribution losses. We also studied about the
various reasons that are responsible for the
transmission and distribution losses. Keeping the
above various reasons for the transmission and
distribution losses we should take several
initiatives for the reduction of the transmission and
distribution losses. We have to mitigate the power
theft which is normal thing in the rural areas of
India. Strictly implementation of the audit schemes
is very necessary for the realistic determination of
the transmission and distribution. The financial
institutions should be encouraged to provide easy
loans to the utilities for the technological up
gradation. Consumer awareness programs should
be carried out time by time by the utilities related
to the power utilization and power consumption.

IV. REFERENCES

[1]. J.P. Navani, N.K.Sharma and Sonal Sapra

“Technical and Non – Technical losses in power system
and its economic consequence in Indian Economy”

[2]. Mohsin Mahmood, Om Shivam, Pankaj Kumar and

Gopal Krishnan “Real Time study on Technical losses in
Distribution System” Vol.3, Special Issue1, Feb. 2014