Counting the cost: Coping with tariff increases amidst power supply shortfalls in urban households in Ethiopia

Although affordability is important, people do not need to be money poor experience energy deprivation. This paper examines how an electricity tariff increase affects household consumption by situating the price change within broader context of service provision in Ethiopia. We place households’ lived interaction with institutional and infrastructural dynamics that constitute sector Addis Ababa observe intersects provision. Since was implemented, households have changed their daily routines control cost. Our findings show behaviour also shaped service-related inadequacies (unreliable supply frequent power outages). However, families coping capacity (to shortfalls) undermined market rife information asymmetries uncertainties. Thus, although socioeconomic factors underpin insecurity experience, inadequate supply, diminishing confidence providing institutions appears heighten vulnerability. The argues while has overall effect on consumption, its impact needs seen systemic governance delivery challenges.