A general method is described for calculating potential, current and heat-power distributions in electrode foils. The resulting theory is suitable for cell designs with an arbitrary number of current collecting tabs. Example calculation results for a three tab cell design with an ohmic stack impedance are shown. Internal mixing currents, a non-uniform stack current distribution, and sharply peaked heat generation near the tabs, are predicted. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.