To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the distribution losses of electricity over the national grid in each of the last five years. (165812)

Losses between 2002 and 2006 (the last year for which data are available) are summarised as follows.

Electricity is lost from both the National Grid's high voltage transmission system, and the distribution networks. In each of the years shown, losses from the transmission system were equivalent to approximately 1.5 per cent. of total electricity available, and approximately 6 per cent. of electricity available was lost via the distribution network. In addition, around 0.5 per cent. is accounted for by theft or meter fraud and accounting differences making about 8 per cent. losses in total.