Transmission losses are why energy is so expensive

Dolores

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Feb 20, 2019
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A report in El Caribe newspaper states that between the generation stations and the electricity distributors there is a loss of over 40% of the energy produced. According to a note from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, for every 100 units of energy (gigawatts or kilowatts, it makes no difference) some 44% is lost in transmission from the generating station to the electricity distribution companies (EDEs).

The note says that this represents a monetary loss of over US$700 million so far this year.

Common sense indicates that this loss cannot be covered unless the EDEs charge more per kilowatt-hour (Kw/h), because they “bought” 100 units but only received 56, and they have to pay for the 100 that they ordered. It is a loss-loss situation.

The article also explains that there is about a 6% loss in collection of electricity bills in the country. Obviously, this is a...

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josh2203

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Dec 5, 2013
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"Common sense indicates that this loss cannot be covered unless the EDEs charge more per kilowatt-hour (Kw/h), because they “bought”100 units but only received 56, and they have to pay for the 100 that they ordered. It is a loss-loss situation."

I did not see this covered in the article linked, it just says that of the amount of energy bought, they can only bill so and so much, so at which point does the energy disappear? I hope what I quoted above really is not the truth, as it would mean that the EDEs received the energy they buy unmetered? I'm saying this as it says on the DR1 article that it's irrelevant how much EDEs actually receive (so metered amount), as they have to pay what they ordered even if they did not receive that??
 

CristoRey

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Apr 1, 2014
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The Dominican Corporation of State Electrical Utilities (CDEEE) was planned to be dissolved and the electricity distribution sector privatized in 2021 as part of the National Pact for Energy Reform. It's my understanding when doing so they eliminated the state subsidies around the same. Even tho they
(the Dom Gov) made several announcements in the press claiming our electricity rates wouldn't be raised, this was a bold face lie and the rest is history.
Welcome To Wonderland.
 

josh2203

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Dec 5, 2013
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Why do high? It's 2% lost in transmission in the US
I think and seriously hope that that state of the electrical grid in the US and that in the DR cannot be compared...

I would imagine simply due to the state of the infrastructure...
 

josh2203

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Why do high? It's 2% lost in transmission in the US
Just checked where we are at the moment in Scandinavia, also on average way below 2 % in the national grid. Depends on the weather conditions, infrastructure conditions and flow of electricity, so sudden peaks may cause more loss as well. Also if the wires heat up, that causes some loss...
 

Father Guido

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maybe it's sucked up by all the tree branches and vines that seem to cover the transmission lines where I live, and maybe it's all the power that is lost to illegal hook-ups
 

chico bill

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maybe it's sucked up by all the tree branches and vines that seem to cover the transmission lines where I live, and maybe it's all the power that is lost to illegal hook-ups
Let's hope they aren't illegally hooking to transmission lines or we'll find lots of fried bodies below
 

windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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That much loss in the transmission lines makes no sense at all. A further explanation is needed for that number.