4.2.5. Experienced Reliability, Technical—And Environmental Issues

As illustrated, the majority of the respondents reported positive impacts of electrification in their communities which is largely mirrored by the question of the negative effects of electrification. Around two-thirds of the respondents using an MG- or SHS-connection in Uganda as well as MG-users in Zambia report no negative effects which are in contrast to 60% of Zambian SHS-users reporting negative effects of electrification in their community. However, experienced energy problems vary among user groups and country as shown in Figure 14. In congruence with the data on consumer finance and energy payment, Zambian SHS users reported problems with regard to affordability and cost as most significant, followed by limited energy supply and reliability issues. These concerns are shared with SHS users in Uganda who, however, see safety issues as their most central problem. Differences can also be observed among MG users in Uganda and Zambia. While respondents connected to the Sinda MG mostly reported issues with regard to reliability and energy cost, MG users in Kalangala overwhelmingly stated certain safety problems such as severe injuries and death due to electrical shocks as well as electric fires as the biggest problems. Possible explanations for these reports from Uganda can be the cases of electricity theft and tampering with the system, as users reported that two or more households are sharing an electric meter which is clearly dedicated to one household only, instead of a general lack of technical quality of the installation. While the environmental impact of the energy

connection has been considered low by the respondents in both countries, social problems, especially conflicts between community members with—and without energy access seem to be of some concern to SHS users both in Uganda and Zambia.

**Figure 14.** Perceived negative impacts of electrification among various subgroups; Multiple responses; Responses in %.
