Attaining Energy Efficiency through Management of Residential Demand -An Empirical Study of Jaipur City

Energy powers the world's economic engine and there exists a very strong relationship between the quantity of energy used and the development of the economy. It is true that the continuous increase in the per capita consumption of power from 176 KWh in 198081 to 1000 KWh in 2011-2012 is considered to be an effective indicator of growth, However this ever increasing consumption has negative impact on the economy such as increased investments in the power sector in order to bridge the gap between demand and supply of power, reduction of finite resources like coal, oil etc., and environmental degradation. It is found that 40% of the electricity produced is consumed by the households as people have increased their stock of electrical appliances in order to lead a comfortable life as well as to have more leisure time to spend with their family members. The present research article focuses on the increasing demand for electricity over the years and suggests some strategies to curb and manage excess demand for power. The paper studies the consumption pattern of residential electricity with specific regard to the increasing usage of electric appliances in the households of Jaipur city. The analysis of stock of electrical appliances has been conducted by taking a random sample of 100 electrified houses in different divisions of Jaipur city. The supplementary objective of the paper is to analyze the dynamics of energy end-use among the households of Jaipur city and suggest some effective measures to manage the residential demand for power in order to enhance the efficiency in the usage of electricity.