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Electricity theft: Analysis of the underlying contributory factors in Ghana

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  • Yakubu, Osman
  • Babu C., Narendra
  • Adjei, Osei

Abstract

Developing countries, including Ghana, are grappling with a high rate of electricity theft; it is affecting the income generation capacity of their utility companies. The infrastructure deployed by these utility companies to detect and control electricity theft are poor resulting in an immense loss of revenue. This study was undertaken to identify the underlying contributory factors that encourages electricity theft in Ghana. Studies undertaken in other countries revealed that, electricity theft is as a result of economic and political reasons such as poverty and unemployment. Using data captured from the Ashanti Region, which is the most populous region in Ghana, we studied the factors that cause electricity theft and ranked them in order of the most significant. In this study, higher electricity prices, poor quality of power supplied, corruption, poor enforcement of the law against electricity theft, and the PURC not fighting for the interest of consumers were found to be the main causes of electricity theft. Other factors are attitudinal, illiteracy, unemployment, and poverty.

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  • Yakubu, Osman & Babu C., Narendra & Adjei, Osei, 2018. "Electricity theft: Analysis of the underlying contributory factors in Ghana," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 611-618.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:123:y:2018:i:c:p:611-618
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.09.019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hugo Brise o & Omar Rojas, 2020. "Factors Associated with Electricity Theft in Mexico," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(3), pages 250-254.
    2. Hugo Brise o & Jessica Rubiano & Rodolfo Garc a & Omar Rojas, 2021. "Factors Associated with Electricity Losses in Colombia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(6), pages 465-470.
    3. Arkorful, Vincent Ekow, 2022. "Unravelling electricity theft whistleblowing antecedents using the theory of planned behavior and norm activation model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    4. Savian, Fernando de Souza & Siluk, Julio Cezar Mairesse & Garlet, Taís Bisognin & do Nascimento, Felipe Moraes & Pinheiro, José Renes & Vale, Zita, 2021. "Non-technical losses: A systematic contemporary article review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
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    6. Babar, Zainab & Jamil, Faisal & Haq, Wajiha, 2022. "Consumer's perception towards electricity theft: A case study of Islamabad and Rawalpindi using a path analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    7. Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D. & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2023. "Of cooks, crooks and slum-dwellers: Exploring the lived experience of energy and mobility poverty in Mexico's informal settlements," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    8. Jamil, Faisal & Ahmad, Eatzaz, 2019. "Policy considerations for limiting electricity theft in the developing countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 452-458.
    9. Daniel Leite & José Pessanha & Paulo Simões & Rodrigo Calili & Reinaldo Souza, 2020. "A Stochastic Frontier Model for Definition of Non-Technical Loss Targets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-20, June.
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    11. Fernando de Souza Savian & Julio Cezar Mairesse Siluk & Tai s Bisognin Garlet & Felipe Moraes do Nascimento & Jose Renes Pinheiro & Zita Vale, 2022. "Non-technical Losses in Brazil: Overview, Challenges, and Directions for Identification and Mitigation," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(3), pages 93-107, May.
    12. Hugo Brise o & Omar Rojas, 2020. "Factors Associated with Electricity Losses: A Panel Data Perspective," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 281-286.
    13. Adongo, Charles Atanga & Taale, Francis & Bukari, Shaibu & Suleman, Shafic & Amadu, Iddrisu, 2021. "Electricity theft whistleblowing feasibility in commercial accommodation facilities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    14. Klug, Thomas W. & Beyene, Abebe D. & Meles, Tensay H. & Toman, Michael A. & Hassen, Sied & Hou, Michael & Klooss, Benjamin & Mekonnen, Alemu & Jeuland, Marc, 2022. "A review of impacts of electricity tariff reform in Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    15. Gideon Otchere-Appiah & Shingo Takahashi & Mavis Serwaa Yeboah & Yuichiro Yoshida, 2021. "The Impact of Smart Prepaid Metering on Non-Technical Losses in Ghana," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, March.
    16. Wabukala, Benard M. & Mukisa, Nicholas & Watundu, Susan & Bergland, Olvar & Rudaheranwa, Nichodemus & Adaramola, Muyiwa S., 2023. "Impact of household electricity theft and unaffordability on electricity security: A case of Uganda," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).

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