Demystifying the authentic attributes of electricity-poor populations: The electrification landscape of rural off-grid island communities in the Philippines. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lozano, Lorafe; Taboada, Evelyn B.
• Is Part Of: Energy policy. Volume 145(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Electrical energy poverty -- Multi-tier framework -- Rural electrification -- Isolated islands -- Off-grid; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Politique énergétique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111715
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4215

Abstract

Abstract: Globally, there is now a substantial decrease in unelectrified households. This unidimensional measure, however, fails to convey the level of electricity access enjoyed by these households, with electricity poverty (EP) still considered prevalent. The multi-faceted nature of EP is already recognised with several multidimensional indices proposed that are still oriented towards the binary approach of either having or not having access to certain attributes. This paper presents the Household Electricity Poverty Matrix (HEPM), a practical tool that assigns tier levels to household electricity access attributes. In this study, EP is measured in three Philippine islands and an aggregated index is compared with that of the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI) approach. Results suggest that Gilutongan and Pangan-an, both having less than 24-h electricity access, experience high EP incidence while Cobrador Island, with 24-h access, has relatively lower EP incidence. MEPI, on the other hand, classifies Gilutongan and Cobrador as having low incidence and Pangan-an as having moderate EP incidence. This work demonstrates that HEPM is a better approach to realistically assess community electrification and can serve as a good basis in enhancing electrical energy policy towards closing the electricity access gap and providing its socio-economic relevance to the target communities. Highlights: A practical novel household electrical energy poverty assessment is presented. Binary approach of electricity deprivation measurement is improved by assigning tier levels. Electricity deprivation is measured in three small islands in the Philippines. A realistic assessment of electrification rate in off-grid islands is demonstrated.