Universal access to electricity is a necessary prerequisite to ending poverty itself

This op-ed argues that universal access to electricity is a critical prerequisite for ending poverty and driving socioeconomic development in South Africa. The author contends that the South African government incorrectly defines 'access' as mere physical connection to the grid, ignoring the essential components of affordability and reliability. This narrow focus, combined with an inadequate Free Basic Electricity policy and a cost-recovery model, traps low-income households and small enterprises in poverty by making the electricity needed for economic growth unaffordable.

• Access to electricity is a fundamental driver of socioeconomic development, facilitating higher-value economic opportunities, employment creation, and improved livelihoods in rural areas through irrigation, animal production, and agro-processing. It is also linked to better educational outcomes, reduced child mortality from indoor air pollution—estimated at 1,400 deaths annually in South Africa—improved gender equity, and increased safety from house fires.
• The South African government's approach to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7.1 is flawed because it defines 'access' solely as a physical connection to the electricity grid. The author argues that true access must be the sum of physical access, affordability, and reliability. While the government claims success because approximately 85% of households have a formal connection, this ignores those who cannot afford to use the electricity or face unreliable supply.
• Affordability is the primary barrier to universal electricity access in South Africa, where approximately 43% of households are classified as energy-poor. The current cost-recovery-from-users model ensures that those who cannot pay cannot access power, creating a cycle that entrenches inequality. The Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy is described as 'essentially pointless' because its provision of 50kWh per household per month is insufficient for poverty reduction and suffers from poor implementation.
• Current South African policy and legislation fail to address effective electricity access. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy's reports lack strategies for effective access, and the Gauteng Township Economic Development Bill does not mention electricity access despite its goal to promote the township economy. The author notes that since the 1998 White Paper on Energy, no formal benchmark for affordability has been established to determine the price at which low-income users can generate socioeconomic benefits.

APA

Ledger, T. (2022). Universal access to electricity is a necessary prerequisite to ending poverty itself. Public Affairs Research Institute. https://pari.org.za/op-ed-universal-access-to-electricity-is-a-necessary-prerequisite-to-ending-poverty-itself/

Chicago

Ledger, Tracy. Universal access to electricity is a necessary prerequisite to ending poverty itself. Public Affairs Research Institute, 2022. https://pari.org.za/op-ed-universal-access-to-electricity-is-a-necessary-prerequisite-to-ending-poverty-itself/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Ledger |first1=Tracy |title=Universal access to electricity is a necessary prerequisite to ending poverty itself |publisher=Public Affairs Research Institute |date=17 February 2022 |url=https://pari.org.za/op-ed-universal-access-to-electricity-is-a-necessary-prerequisite-to-ending-poverty-itself/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{ledger2022universal, author = {Ledger, Tracy}, title = {{Universal access to electricity is a necessary prerequisite to ending poverty itself}}, publisher = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2022}, month = feb, url = {https://pari.org.za/op-ed-universal-access-to-electricity-is-a-necessary-prerequisite-to-ending-poverty-itself/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }