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Paper short abstract

Digitalisation has increased households' reliance on energy-dependent digital services; yet conventional measures often overlook the shift and misrepresent deprivation and inequality. The paper addresses this gap by including digital dimensions to estimate energy poverty in India more accurately.

Paper long abstract

Rapid digital transformations are reshaping various global needs, and residential energy needs are no different. While a significant share of the global population remains deprived of direct energy sources, such as electricity and clean cooking fuel, the increased use of digital services has created new axes of inequality. The inclusion of digital energy services is necessary, especially in the Global South, where residential energy and digital advancements are still insufficient. Hence, the paper aims to measure the prevalence of energy poverty by constructing a multidimensional energy poverty index that accounts for digital-dependent energy services, along with a comprehensive set of other indicators. Using nationally representative data from the periods 2015-16 and 2020-21, the study analyses the prevalence of energy inequalities among households at various geographical levels, including national and sub-national (regional, state, and district) levels. Furthermore, the indicator-specific prevalence of energy examines the role of digital disruptions in energy-deprived households. Finally, the study analyses the extent of transition in households' energy deprivation and associated inequalities over the last half-decade. The results indicate a significant decline in energy deprivation during this period. However, energy deprivation, including that resulting from digital advancements, has a more pronounced effect on the least developed regions and social classes. Moreover, the inequalities have shrunk minimally among the vulnerable communities. The study emphasises the need for community-level infrastructure development policies to ensure that households' well-being in less developed regions can access energy and energy-led services, thereby reducing disparities with developed areas.

Keywords: Energy poverty, Digitalisation, Regional Inequalities