This paper presents an electrical heating model using alternating current (AC) for the silicon rods located in a 24-rod Siemens reactor. In this model, the combined effects of heat dissipation (radiation, convection, and reaction energy), skin effect, and heat conduction owing to Joule effect are examined. The presence of the skin effect, which yields an important radial temperature profile controlled by the heat conduction equation for the rods, has been considered. The present model is validated using industrial current data, and it is observed that the numerical results are in good agreement with them. The influence of the location of the silicon rods, AC frequency, radius of rod, and wall emissivity on the temperature profile and current density has been studied through the application of the developed model. Tailoring the temperature profile of silicon rods and extending the maximum deposition radius has also been performed. Voltage-current curves, which are applied to generate the required heat during the manufacturing period, have also been studied using different AC frequencies and wall emissivities. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.