Lemanski, Charlotte, Haque, Anika Nasra orcid.org/0000-0002-0717-376X, de Groot, Jiska et al. (1 more author) (2025) The false optimism of electrification:why universal electricity access has not delivered urban energy transformation in South Africa. Energy policy. 114506. ISSN 0301-4215
Abstract
Universal access to energy is a global priority, increasingly delivered through grid-tied and off-grid infrastructure. However, energy policies frequently conflate universal access with extending and subsidising networked electricity, resulting in technology-dominated approaches. Rapid urbanisation in the global south has outstripped infrastructure capacity, where urban dwellers’ access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable forms of energy are precarious. This failure to reflect human needs and societal expectations alongside technical considerations is threatening the sustainability of urban energy transitions. This paper draws from qualitative data with low-income urban dwellers and municipal policymakers to critically examine South Africa’s energy access policies. We demonstrate how prioritising ‘electricity for all’ via grid connections fails to deliver universal access to affordable energy. First, the state’s emphasis on extending and subsidising networked electricity prioritises proximity to grid connections rather than access to energy services, and permanently excludes households living in un-serviceable structures/settlements. Second, limited community participation produces a policy that ignores low-income households’ urban practices and creates perverse incentives to distort energy consumption. We argue that delivering an urban energy transition that is economically feasible, locally appropriate and socially desirable requires policy expansion beyond physical delivery, working with targeted communities on policy development, knowledge exchange, and capacity building.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 The Authors |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 22 Jan 2025 12:10 |
Last Modified: | 01 Mar 2025 04:00 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114506 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114506 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:222194 |
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Description: The false optimism of electrification: why universal electricity access has not delivered urban energy transformation in South Africa
Licence: CC-BY 2.5