Households‟ Valuation Of Power Outages In Ga West Municipality Of Greater Accra Region: An Application Of A Choice Experiment

Abstract

Contemporary energy sources are pivotal for socio-economic development in developing nations, offering a means to alleviate poverty. However, heavy reliance on wood poses health and socio-economic challenges. This study focuses on enhancing electricity services to address these issues, utilizing choice experiments (CE) to gauge preferences. The research surveyed 400 households in Ga West Municipality, Greater Accra, employing mixed logit estimation to assess attributes of power outages like planned and unplanned occurrences, duration, and scope. Findings reveal households are willing to invest Ghȼ 8.51, Ghȼ 7.21, and Ghȼ 1.54 annually to reduce planned outages, unplanned disruptions, and outage duration, respectively. Policy recommendations advocate for a comprehensive approach, prioritizing district-level improvements and allocating resources for infrastructure development and regular maintenance to mitigate disruptions. Prompt response mechanisms for unplanned outages are essential, given residents' willingness to invest Ghȼ 7.21 annually. Furthermore, prioritizing initiatives to shorten outage durations, supported by household willingness to pay Ghȼ 1.54 annually, is crucial. Investments in technology and procedures are advised to enhance service quality. Implementing these recommendations can significantly enhance electricity service reliability, affordability, and overall quality in Ga West Municipality, ultimately improving residents' lives in the Greater Accra region