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The Economic Costs of Unsupplied Electricity: Evidence from Backup Generation among African Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Musiliu O. Oseni

    (University of Cambridge Judge Business School, Energy Policy Research Group (EPRG), University of Cambridge)

  • Michael G. Pollitt

    (University of Cambridge Judge Business School,Energy Policy Research Group (EPRG), University of Cambridge)

Abstract

Public electricity provision in Africa has been marred by under investment and frequent power outages.One of the strategies often adopted by firms to cope with this poor public supply is investment in backup generation. This strategy is not without cost however. Extant literatures on outage cost estimation have shown that firms possessing certain characteristics have a higher tendency to invest in backup generation. What is less known, however, is whether those firms suffer lesser or higher unmitigated outage losses (costs). Using cross-sectional data from 6854 firms currently operating in 12 African countries, this study investigated the extent to which firms’ characteristics might create incentives for auto-generation and whether these incentives lead to lesser unmitigated outage costs.We used three different methods including marginal cost, incomplete backup and subjective evaluation techniques. The results reveal that large firms, firms engaging in exports, and those using the Internet for their operationstill suffer higher unmitigated outage costs despite having a higher propensity of investing in backup generation. The results further reveal that unmitigated costs still account for the larger proportion of the total outage costs despite high prevalence of backup ownership among the firms. This reflects the inefficiency in backup generation due to small backup capacity held by firms. Our estimates also indicate that ignoring firms'characteristics such as size and the nature of operation (e.g. export promotion, internet usage, etc.) may result in underestimation of outage losses. The analysis further suggests that firms can still benefit significantly even when the current subsidised tariffs are replaced by cost-reflective rates that ensure stable electricity supply. The net outage cost (having adjusted for a cost-reflective tariff) incurred by firms are large enough to expand their scope of operation and hire more workers, suggesting the macroeconomic effect
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Musiliu O. Oseni & Michael G. Pollitt, 2013. "The Economic Costs of Unsupplied Electricity: Evidence from Backup Generation among African Firms," Working Papers EPRG 1326, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    • Handle: RePEc:enp:wpaper:eprg1326
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    Cited by:

    1. Abiodun, Kehinde & Gilbert, Ben, 2022. "Does universal electrification shield firms from productivity loss?," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 28(C).
    2. Oseni, Musiliu O. & Pollitt, Michael G., 2016. "The promotion of regional integration of electricity markets: Lessons for developing countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 628-638.
    3. repec:ocp:rpecon:rp-21-03 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. repec:ocp:rpaper:rp-2103 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Salci, Sener & Jenkins, Glenn, 2016. "An Economic and Stakeholder Analysis for the Design of IPP Contracts for Wind Farms," MPRA Paper 70578, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Niroomand, Naghmeh & Jenkins, Glenn P., 2020. "Averting Expenditures and Willingness to Pay for Electricity Supply Reliability," Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(3), pages 501-523, October.
    7. Oseni, Musiliu O. & Pollitt, Michael G., 2014. "Institutional arrangements for the promotion of regional integration of electricity markets : international experience," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6947, The World Bank.
    8. Acar, Pinar & Berk, Istemi, 2022. "Power infrastructure quality and industrial performance: A panel data analysis on OECD manufacturing sectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PC).
    9. Musiliu O. Oseni, 2017. "Self-Generation and Households' Willingness to Pay for Reliable Electricity Service in Nigeria," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 4).
    10. David M. Newbery, 2017. "Pricing electricity and supporting renewables in Heavily Energy Subsidized Economies," The Energy Journal, , vol. 38(1_suppl), pages 97-114, June.
    11. Nkosi, Nomsa Phindile & Dikgang, Johane, 2018. "Pricing electricity blackouts among South African households," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 11(C), pages 37-47.
    12. Abdisa, Lamessa T., 2018. "Power outages, economic cost, and firm performance: Evidence from Ethiopia," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 111-120.
    13. Abdisa, Lamessa Tariku, 2018. "Power Outages, Its Economic Cost and Firm Performance: Evidence From Ethiopia," MPRA Paper 88217, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Dmitriy Li & Jeong Hwan Bae & Meenakshi Rishi, 2023. "Sustainable Development and SDG-7 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Balancing Energy Access, Economic Growth, and Carbon Emissions," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(1), pages 112-137, February.
    15. Oseni, Musiliu O. & Pollitt, Michael G., 2015. "A firm-level analysis of outage loss differentials and self-generation: Evidence from African business enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(PB), pages 277-286.
    16. repec:ocp:rptrad:rp-21-03 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Hirwa, Jusse & Zolan, Alexander & Becker, William & Flamand, Tülay & Newman, Alexandra, 2023. "Optimizing design and dispatch of a resilient renewable energy microgrid for a South African hospital," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    18. Mina Baliamoune, 2021. "Trade, Infrastructure, and Female Participation in Labor Markets," Research papers & Policy papers on Trade Dynamics and Policies 2103, Policy Center for the New South.
    19. Timilsina, Govinda & Steinbuks, Jevgenijs & Sapkota, Prakash, 2019. "Economy-wide Cost of Electricity Load Shedding in Nepal," Conference papers 333038, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    20. George Abuchi Agwu & Iyke Uwazie Uwazie & F. Tobechi Agbanike & Oguwuike Michael Enyoghasim & Lasbrey Anochiwa & Ikwor Okoroafor Ogbonnaya & Chima Nwabugo Durueke, 2019. "The Economic Costs of Unsupplied Electricity in Nigeria s Industrial Sector: The Roles of Captive Power Generation and Firm Characteristics," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 9(3), pages 196-204.
    21. Salci, Sener & Jenkins, Glenn, 2016. "An Economic and Stakeholder Analysis for the Design of IPP Contracts for Wind Farms," MPRA Paper 70578, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    22. Timilsina, Govinda & Steinbuks, Jevgenijs, 2021. "Economic costs of electricity load shedding in Nepal," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing
    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • N77 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Africa; Oceania
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy

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