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The impact of power outages on households in Zambia

Author

Listed:
  • Imaduddin Ahmed

    (UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, Engineering for International Development
    Tony Bair Institute for Global Change – Energy and Climate Advisory)

  • Priti Parikh

    (UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, Engineering for International Development)

  • Parfait Munezero

    (Stockholm University
    Ericsson)

  • Graham Sianjase

    (UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction)

  • D’Maris Coffman

    (UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction)

Abstract

As global average temperatures rise, so does the frequency and intensity of El Niño-induced droughts, which in turn threaten the reliability of hydropower. 1.4 billion people live in countries where hydropower constitutes more than a quarter of the electricity production and which have experienced El Niño droughts, meaning many more power outages can be expected around the world. Little research has been conducted on the impact of power outages on mental health. This study takes Zambia as its case study to examine the impact that El Niño droughts have had on the lives of householders connected to a highly hydropower-dependant electricity grid, and includes the impact it has had on their physical and self-reported mental health. Using 54 online responses to a survey, we found that the greatest impacts of outages spoiled food, compromised entertainment, compromised ability to work and limitation in cooking options. More than a fifth of respondents reported experiencing self-reported depression to a major degree or all of the time due to power outages, with individuals writing their own responses that they felt debilitated, experienced reduced communication and reduced activities, and stress. Using Bayesian inference, we found that changes in sleeping patterns arising from power outages was a statistically significant predictor of self-reported depression. 63% of surveyed households were willing to pay approximately USD 0.10/kWh as of the end of 2019, about double the tariff that they did, to ensure reliable electricity supply. Household income was a statistically significant predictor of willingness to pay more.

Suggested Citation

  • Imaduddin Ahmed & Priti Parikh & Parfait Munezero & Graham Sianjase & D’Maris Coffman, 2023. "The impact of power outages on households in Zambia," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(3), pages 835-867, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:epolit:v:40:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s40888-023-00311-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s40888-023-00311-0
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Power outages; Impact on households; Mental health; Physical health; Sleep;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • M2 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O2 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy
    • R2 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis

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