IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v169y2022ics0301421522004098.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Consumer's perception towards electricity theft: A case study of Islamabad and Rawalpindi using a path analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Babar, Zainab
  • Jamil, Faisal
  • Haq, Wajiha

Abstract

Electricity theft is a chronic issue and energy worth billions of dollars is stolen annually from electricity grids mainly in the developing countries. This study highlights socio-economic and institutional factors deteriorating the electricity theft situation using the path analysis by employing a measurement model in the analysis of a moment structures (AMOS). Preceding the path analysis, statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) is used for descriptive statistics, reliability analysis through Cronbach's alpha test, and exploratory factor analysis through KMO & Barlett's test of sphericity. The study analyses the factors that facilitate the illegal consumption of electricity in the service area of Islamabad Electric Supply Company, Pakistan, utilizing a primary dataset collected through a structured questionnaire from the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The analysis is based on perception of the consumers. The factors that significantly and positively affect the behavior towards theft include corruption diluting deterrence and power outages/load shedding, whereas the age of the respondent negatively affects their perception towards electricity theft. The role of electricity tariff rate, electricity consumption pattern, probability of detection, the rule of law, education of the respondent and quality of conduct of utility officials appeared insignificant in motivating consumers to steal electricity.

Suggested Citation

  • Babar, Zainab & Jamil, Faisal & Haq, Wajiha, 2022. "Consumer's perception towards electricity theft: A case study of Islamabad and Rawalpindi using a path analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:169:y:2022:i:c:s0301421522004098
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113189
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421522004098
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113189?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kessides, Ioannis N., 2013. "Chaos in power: Pakistan's electricity crisis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 271-285.
    2. Nepal, Rabindra & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2012. "Reforming the power sector in transition: Do institutions matter?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 1675-1682.
    3. Nadeem, Ahmad & Arshad, Naveed, 2021. "A data-driven approach to reduce electricity theft in developing countries," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    4. Depuru, Soma Shekara Sreenadh Reddy & Wang, Lingfeng & Devabhaktuni, Vijay, 2011. "Electricity theft: Overview, issues, prevention and a smart meter based approach to control theft," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 1007-1015, February.
    5. Nakano, Makiko & Managi, Shunsuke, 2008. "Regulatory reforms and productivity: An empirical analysis of the Japanese electricity industry," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 201-209, January.
    6. Toke S. Aidt, 2003. "Economic analysis of corruption: a survey," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 113(491), pages 632-652, November.
    7. Yurtseven, Çağlar, 2015. "The causes of electricity theft: An econometric analysis of the case of Turkey," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 70-78.
    8. Ahmad, Tanveer, 2017. "Non-technical loss analysis and prevention using smart meters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 573-589.
    9. Dal Bo, Ernesto & Rossi, Martin A., 2007. "Corruption and inefficiency: Theory and evidence from electric utilities," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(5-6), pages 939-962, June.
    10. Carter, Adrian & Craigwell, Roland & Moore, Winston, 2012. "Price reform and household demand for electricity," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 242-252.
    11. Yakubu, Osman & Babu C., Narendra & Adjei, Osei, 2018. "Electricity theft: Analysis of the underlying contributory factors in Ghana," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 611-618.
    12. Brown, David S. & Mobarak, Ahmed Mushfiq, 2009. "The Transforming Power of Democracy: Regime Type and the Distribution of Electricity," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 103(2), pages 193-213, May.
    13. Jamil, Faisal, 2013. "On the electricity shortage, price and electricity theft nexus," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 267-272.
    14. Faisal Jamil & Eatzaz Ahmad, 2014. "An Empirical Study of Electricity Theft from Electricity Distribution Companies in Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 53(3), pages 239-254.
    15. Jamil, Faisal, 2018. "Electricity theft among residential consumers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 147-154.
    16. Jamil, Faisal & Ahmad, Eatzaz, 2019. "Policy considerations for limiting electricity theft in the developing countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 452-458.
    17. Smith, Thomas B., 2004. "Electricity theft: a comparative analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(18), pages 2067-2076, December.
    18. Nagayama, Hiroaki, 2010. "Impacts on investments, and transmission/distribution loss through power sector reforms," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 3453-3467, July.
    19. Arkorful, Vincent Ekow, 2022. "Unravelling electricity theft whistleblowing antecedents using the theory of planned behavior and norm activation model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    20. Gaur, Vasundhara & Gupta, Eshita, 2016. "The determinants of electricity theft: An empirical analysis of Indian states," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 127-136.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Stracqualursi, Erika & Rosato, Antonello & Di Lorenzo, Gianfranco & Panella, Massimo & Araneo, Rodolfo, 2023. "Systematic review of energy theft practices and autonomous detection through artificial intelligence methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jamil, Faisal & Ahmad, Eatzaz, 2019. "Policy considerations for limiting electricity theft in the developing countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 452-458.
    2. Wabukala, Benard M. & Mukisa, Nicholas & Watundu, Susan & Bergland, Olvar & Rudaheranwa, Nichodemus & Adaramola, Muyiwa S., 2023. "Impact of household electricity theft and unaffordability on electricity security: A case of Uganda," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    3. Jamil, Faisal, 2018. "Electricity theft among residential consumers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 147-154.
    4. Savian, Fernando de Souza & Siluk, Julio Cezar Mairesse & Garlet, Taís Bisognin & do Nascimento, Felipe Moraes & Pinheiro, José Renes & Vale, Zita, 2021. "Non-technical losses: A systematic contemporary article review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    5. Hugo Brise o & Omar Rojas, 2020. "Factors Associated with Electricity Losses: A Panel Data Perspective," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 281-286.
    6. Hugo Brise o & Omar Rojas, 2020. "Factors Associated with Electricity Theft in Mexico," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(3), pages 250-254.
    7. Adongo, Charles Atanga & Taale, Francis & Bukari, Shaibu & Suleman, Shafic & Amadu, Iddrisu, 2021. "Electricity theft whistleblowing feasibility in commercial accommodation facilities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    8. Hugo Brise o & Jessica Rubiano & Rodolfo Garc a & Omar Rojas, 2021. "Factors Associated with Electricity Losses in Colombia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(6), pages 465-470.
    9. Faisal Jamil & Eatzaz Ahmad, 2014. "An Empirical Study of Electricity Theft from Electricity Distribution Companies in Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 53(3), pages 239-254.
    10. Stracqualursi, Erika & Rosato, Antonello & Di Lorenzo, Gianfranco & Panella, Massimo & Araneo, Rodolfo, 2023. "Systematic review of energy theft practices and autonomous detection through artificial intelligence methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    11. Arkorful, Vincent Ekow, 2022. "Unravelling electricity theft whistleblowing antecedents using the theory of planned behavior and norm activation model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    12. Ejaz Gul & Imran Sharif Chaudhry, 2016. "Socio-Economic Analysis of Household Energy Security: Evidence from 3D Energy Losses Surface Maps (ELSMs)of a Town Using Conjuncture of Factors Matrix, Digital and Mathematical Analysis," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 55(4), pages 1019-1041.
    13. Jamil, Faisal, 2013. "On the electricity shortage, price and electricity theft nexus," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 267-272.
    14. Daniel Leite & José Pessanha & Paulo Simões & Rodrigo Calili & Reinaldo Souza, 2020. "A Stochastic Frontier Model for Definition of Non-Technical Loss Targets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-20, June.
    15. Muhammad Salman Saeed & Mohd Wazir Mustafa & Nawaf N. Hamadneh & Nawa A. Alshammari & Usman Ullah Sheikh & Touqeer Ahmed Jumani & Saifulnizam Bin Abd Khalid & Ilyas Khan, 2020. "Detection of Non-Technical Losses in Power Utilities—A Comprehensive Systematic Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-25, September.
    16. Tooraj Jamasb & Rabindra Nepal & Govinda Timilsina & Michael Toman, 2014. "Energy Sector Reform, Economic Efficiency and Poverty Reduction," Discussion Papers Series 529, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    17. Imam, Mahmud I. & Jamasb, Tooraj & Llorca, Manuel, 2019. "Sector reforms and institutional corruption: Evidence from electricity industry in Sub-Saharan Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 532-545.
    18. Ahmad, Hafsa & Jamil, Faisal, 2024. "Investigating power outages in Pakistan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    19. Jamasb,Tooraj & Nepal,Rabindra & Timilsina,Govinda R., 2015. "A quarter century effort yet to come of age : a survey of power sector reforms in developing countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7330, The World Bank.
    20. Mahmud I Imam & Tooraj Jamasb & Manuel Llorca, 2019. "Political Economy of Reform and Regulation in the Electricity Sector of Sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers EPRG1917, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:169:y:2022:i:c:s0301421522004098. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.