Heating practices and self-disconnection among electricity prepayment meter consumers in New Zealand: A follow-up survey

Kimberley C. O'Sullivan, James Stanley, Geoffrey Fougere and Philippa Howden-Chapman

Utilities Policy, 2016, vol. 41, issue C, 139-147

Abstract: This paper presents results from a twelve-month follow-up postal survey of 324 respondents who previously participated in a 2010 nationwide postal survey of prepayment meter consumers. We investigated changes in patterns of self-disconnection and explored heating practices. Self-disconnection decreased from 52.6% to 45.4%, while the frequency of self-disconnection increased slightly. The findings indicate that self-disconnection remains problematic and potentially harmful for many prepayment consumers over time. Self-rationing electricity, particularly restriction of heating is common; 57% of respondents agreed prepayment encouraged restriction of heating use. We provide policy recommendations related to prepayment metering in New Zealand based on these findings.

Keywords: Energy vulnerability; Fuel poverty; Self-disconnection; Heating practices; Thermal comfort (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:juipol:v:41:y:2016:i:c:p:139-147

DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2016.07.002

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