Critical analysis of the electricity market in developing country municipality

Abstract

Developing countries are experiencing significant urban and population growth. This amplifies the crisis of governance of essential public services. This study analyses the electricity market in Lubumbashi, one of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) municipalities. Surveys at different scales are conducted, assessing both access to electricity and the role of actors. 5270 households, 41 policymakers and 100 employees at different scales are interviewed. It has been found that the electricity market is deteriorated by illegal connections to the electricity grid, uncontrolled urban growth, corruption, and poverty. Besides, the quality and cost of electricity decrease with distance from the city centre. Therefore, privatization of the electricity sector would lead to low-cost electricity and high-quality service.