I remember the U.S. Energy Flow Trends ? 2000 chart you brought to my attention. I seem to recall that more than 60% the electrical energy pumped into the transmission lines is simply lost getting to their final destinations.
That is waste heat (conversion losses), not transmission losses. Transmission and distribution (T&D) losses are about 3%. See the graph on page 111 in my book which is diagram 13.1 from the Annual Energy Review:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/diagram5.html
- Jed
