I have a link to a great article at the bottom of the page about the benefits of heated towel racks. Here is a quick summary of some key points in the article:

Heated towel racks offer health and energy benefits you may never have heard of. They are really there not to heat a towel but to dry a towel when you leave the shower or bath. They offer a few key benefits which are:

  1. Heated towel racks are more hygienic than traditional air drying towel methods
  2. Heated towel racks are more energy efficient since a towel dried immediately does not have to be washed as much

Reference article:

http://www.property24.com/articles/the-benefits-of-heated-towel-rails/18223