ASSESSMENT OF ELECTRIC ENERGY SECURITY IN RESIDENTIAL ESTATES OF ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the adequacy of the available household energy sources in the residential estates with a view to achieving electric energy sufficiency in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria a medium sized state capital. The thesis identified the sources of household energy, assessed the wattage/duration of energy supply sources and challenges of getting sufficient daily electricity supply, investigated the combination of energy supply sources used by residents to achieve sufficiency of electricity supply and looked at the citizen initiatives/strategies to attain domestic energy security. The study adopted a mixed method that combined qualitative and quantitative approach. Satellite imagery provided backdrop information from which the residential building and road network features were extracted through digitization. A survey was conducted using questionnaires. The study utilised two kinds of geographic data, spatial and attribute data, which were obtained from primary sources of data. It also used supplementary data from secondary sources obtained from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Media Organization and Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Ado-Ekiti among others. The research was conducted using structured and unstructured questionnaire administration designed and used to obtain detailed information about resident household energy. Geographic Information System (GIS), IKONOS Imagery and ground operation were discussed. The total number of residential buildings in the selected estates was 5145, out of which 20 percent were sampled. Copies of the questionnaire were distributed to 1029 households with 998 retrieved in usable form for analysis, representing 97% of the administered questionnaire. Information were extracted from 998 respondents using a frame of 30,195 that supplied information through the instrument distributed in the selected fourteen (14) residential estates (private and government). This included Falegan, Ekute, Egbawa, Obasanjo, Fayose, State housing, Abuja, Bawa, Alhaji Adeparusi, Federal housing, Shelter view, Irewolede, Federal housing phase 2, and Ire-akari estates. One household head was sampled in each selected residential building. Data processing was carried out through computer aided Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Microsoft excel. Data derived from field survey were presented at three levels, namely; univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses. Data analysis utilized simple frequency tables and figures and simple multiple regression model. Research findings showed a variety of sources utilized by residents to meet their energy needs. Among the rich, the use of solar panels to augment public power supply was common. The middle class combined generators with public supply (BEDC). The poor were content to use candles and kerosene lamps when public supply failed. The study also found that, household electricity tariffs were highly controversial, due to lack of meter reading, coupled with fixed estimated monthly billings (about $12-$20 per resident or N5,000-N9,000 per residents). Income and education were good predictors of cleaner electric energy access. Research results further showed a pervasive adoption of public power supply combinatorially with generators. In promoting electric energy security in Ado-Ekiti, the study recommended improved income, improvement in education, financing and promoting energy studies, canvasses framework for measuring electricity supply levels, introduction of e-energy supplies pricing mechanism for price regulation, continues privatisation of the Nigeria electricity sector, decentralized power generation, transmission and distribution in a regional setting, establishment of Ekiti State Electricity Board (EKSEB) and acceleration of energy reform by providing the institutional framework for domestic electric energy security delivery.