An exploration of household energy use patterns among grid electrified households in low-income rural and peri-urban communities in South Africa

Abstract

This study therefore explores the energy use patterns of low-income grid electrified households in rural and peri-urban areas of South Africa – rural and peri-urban areas being the two areas where majority of the poor reside - as a means to inform insights on the energy use of the poor within these two landscapes. It is important to understand the energy use patterns of these households, in order to inform policy interventions aimed at enhancing the energy welfare of low-income households through improved access to safe, affordable and reliable energy services to be designed and targeted congruent to the energy needs of poor households. Energy use patterns of low-income households in this study were examined using data from a household energy survey conducted by the University of Cape Town.