What does the term “line loss” refer to in an electrical context?

The term “line loss” in the context of electrical systems specifically refers to the loss of electrical energy during transmission. This phenomenon occurs primarily due to the resistance in the conductors that carry the electrical current from the generation source to the end user. As current flows through these conductors, some energy is dissipated in the form of heat, resulting in a loss of power that does not reach the intended load.

This loss is typically quantified in terms of resistive losses, represented by the formula P = I²R, where P is the power loss, I is the current, and R is the resistance of the wire. This emphasizes that higher currents and resistances lead to greater line losses. Understanding line loss is crucial for utility companies and electrical engineers as it affects the overall efficiency of power delivery systems and helps in planning and optimizing the electrical grid.