Based　on　the　weak　dissipative　assumption,　a　more　universal　thermodynamic　model　of　the　pumped　thermal　electricity　storage　(PTES)　system　is　established,　where　the　main　irreversibilities　are　considered　and　several　key　operating　parameters　are　introduced.　Analytic　expressions　for　some　key　performance　parameters,　e.g.,　the　round　trip　efficiency　(RTE),　heat　pumping　rate,　and　power　output,　etc.　of　the　PTES　system　are　derived.　The　upper　boundaries　of　the　RTE　at　the　maximum　power　output　and　the　maximum　RTE　for　some　given　parameters　are　determined.　The　optimally　operating　regions　of　several　parameters　operating　at　different　modes　are　determined.　Notably,　a　generalized　thermodynamic　model　of　weak　dissipative　electrical　energy　storage　(EES)　systems　is　proposed,　and　consequently,　the　results　obtained　from　the　PTES　system　may　be　applied　directly　to　reveal　the　performance　characteristics　of　these　EES　systems.　©　2017　Elsevier　Ltd