The electric power sector is fundamentally different than the other four economic sectors in that primary fuel is consumed to produce another form of energy, electricity. The electricity produced by the Electric Power Sector is then consumed by the other economic sectors. This figure breaks the total consumption of electric power for the state of Arkansas down into three categories: losses, exports, and retail. The category totals were calculated by summing the individual sector totals for each category.

In 2004, 66 percent of the energy consumed to generate and transmit electricity was listed in the electrical system energy losses category as defined by the Energy Information Administration. This category includes losses that were incurred in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity plus plant use and unaccounted for electrical system energy losses. Electricity retail sales accounted for 29 percent of electric power consumption.

Please refer to the Consumption Data section of the appendix for a more detailed view of the data. The table on page 107 provides detailed energy consumption data for the Electric Power Sector; however, there are electric power components included in each of the individual sector data tables. Also note that total losses are allocated to the end-use sectors in proportion to each sector's share of total electricity retail sales.