Metallic shorts to a structure with cathodic protection will typically result in what?

When metallic shorts occur in a structure with cathodic protection, they create a low-resistance path for the protective current. This results in lower circuit resistance. As current is diverted through this low-resistance path, there is typically an increase in current output to the areas that are still requiring protection. However, because the protective current is being bypassed or shunted away from specific areas of the structure that are meant to be protected, the actual effective cathodic protection in those regions diminishes. Thus, while there may be an increase in current output, the overall protection can be compromised, leading to a potential increase in corrosion rates in those unprotected areas.

This answer encapsulates why the conditions described in the question lead to increased current output and a decrease in effective cathodic protection, making it a significant concept in the understanding of cathodic protection systems and their functionality.