How can internet use alleviate household energy poverty? Evidence from China

In the context of China's rapidly developing digital economy, the use of the internet to mitigate household energy poverty has become an increasingly relevant topic. However, at the micro level, the mechanisms through which internet use alleviates energy poverty remain insufficiently explored and lack robust empirical support. This study empirically examines the impact and underlying mechanisms of internet use on household energy poverty by employing econometric methods and panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2010 to 2018. The findings reveal that (1) internet use significantly reduces household energy poverty by increasing both energy accessibility and affordability—a result that remains robust across various sensitivity analyses and after potential endogeneity concerns are addressed; (2) the mitigating effect of internet use on energy poverty is more pronounced among rural households, female-headed households, and those located in northern regions, underscoring the importance of economic disparities, the division of household labor, and climatic factors in shaping energy poverty; and (3) internet use alleviates energy poverty through four primary channels: promoting clean energy adoption, enhancing social capital, facilitating employment, and increasing household income. These findings offer valuable insights and policy implications for leveraging digital technologies to address energy poverty at the household level.