Abstract
Energy poverty is a complex issue that affects both developing and developed countries globally. In developing countries, energy poverty is presented by the lack of access to modern energy services, such as electricity. This leads to households relying on inefficient, polluting fuels to meet their energy needs. Low-income households are particularly vulnerable to energy poverty as the lack of affordability of clean energy services prevents them from benefiting from clean energy consumption. Specifically, school children are vulnerable to energy poverty, which may impact their educational wellbeing. In homes without electricity, children often spend extended periods of time finding alternative energy sources such as firewood or paraffin, which can take away from their study time and negatively affect their educational wellbeing. Taking this into account, this study aims to assess the prevalence of household energy poverty in Soweto and its impact on high school learners. It seeks to explore learners' experiences, examine the link between energy poverty and educational well-being, and identify areas for targeted interventions, a South African township located in the Gauteng province.
Questionnaire surveys were distributed to the learners in high schools in Soweto, which gathered household energy use information from their parents/guardians. Results confirm the presence of energy poverty, as most households are unemployed and unable to afford electricity. In the absence of electricity, households rely on firewood, paraffin, and gas for cooking and heating, while candles and flashlights are used for lighting, with some households using solar lights. Load shedding and load reduction in Soweto further increased the reliance on alternative energy sources. In addition, most households spend more than 10% of their monthly income on energy. It was revealed that some of the households do not pay for electricity but still have a high expenditure on alternative energy sources.
It is recommended that future projects should focus on implementing sustainable energy solutions such as solar power, subsidizing energy costs for low-income households, and promoting energy-efficient practices. Crucially, the Soweto community must play an active role by collaborating with the electricity utility, educating themselves on sustainable electricity use, and accepting the installation of prepaid meters. To ensure the long-term success of these initiatives, it is encouraged to create low skilled jobs that will stimulate local economic growth. This will provide a financial safety net for communities and is crucial for ensuring the long-term viability of these initiatives. In addition, the findings of this study can inform policymaking and guide the implementation of future projects in areas with similar socio-economic profiles to Soweto.