Electromagnetic energy in electric circuits flows primarily through the surrounding electromagnetic field via the Poynting vector rather than directly through the conducting wires.
The retrieved literature, specifically foundational analyses of the Poynting vector in circuits (papers 1 and 2), explicitly supports the premise that energy transfer occurs through the surrounding electromagnetic field rather than internal conduction through wires. The remaining papers cover unrelated topics such as antenna design, power lines, and metamaterials without contradicting this established electromagnetic principle. Thus, the evidence is exclusively supportive.