A hybrid model based on the population balance approach was developed to represent the electrocoalescence phenomena in water-in-oil emulsions. A semi-empirical aggregation model was used in a population balance equation to simulate the dehydration of two different crude oils. The unknown parameters of the population balance equation were estimated using experimental data. The experiments were performed in a continuous pilot plant used to evaluate the dehydration of crude oil emulsions with an initial 4-10 wt % of water. Different functional forms for the specific rate of coalescence and sink term of the population balance equation were evaluated. The results of the proposed hybrid model were compared to the experimental data and previous empirical models reported in the literature. The results showed good agreement with the experimental data and values obtained by empirical models.