Many people often regard electricity as a right that the government in power ought to provide without charge for its citizens. A few others believe that it is a commodity, hence should be paid for.
One of the primary reasons for poor electricity access in developing countries is that electric utilities in these countries seldom get fully paid for by consumers, resulting in power outages and electricity rationing.
Electricity is a commodity capable of being bought, sold, and traded. It is not a primary energy source like coal, oil, and gas; it is a secondary energy source derived from primary energy sources.
For electricity to be made available, it requires several active players such as; the companies who generate the electric power, the transporters of the energy, and the suppliers who supply consumers with the electric power.
Electricity is an expensive yet essential commodity needed to drive the economy of a country. Should electricity be abandoned as a single man’s responsibility, it would fail, and so the country would not progress. Hence, the involvement of the government and private investors in the electricity sector.
To make electricity available for the masses and sustain electricity generation and supply, the government pays a subsidised amount to the sector. The balance of the subsidised power is expected to be paid by consumers of electricity based on what they consume (learn more).
This write-up is aimed at clearing doubts and false beliefs. Electricity is a commodity provided by individuals and the state. For there to exist a steady supply of electricity, the right amount for every unit consumed ought to be accounted for and paid.