The Effects of Power Usage on Five Power Modes in South Africa Using Multivariate Techniques

Abstract

South Africa contends with the lack of access to secure affordable energy. This affects the country’s ability to provide reliable power to consumers. This paper investigates the source of energy ‘power mode’ such as electricity, gas, paraffin, solar and other (firewood and cow dung) and the effects of power usage in cooking, heating and lighting at household consumption level using three multivariate techniques, namely; Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), discriminant analysis and factor analysis. These methods are used to determine the mostly used source of energy and usage based on the nine Provinces in South Africa. According to all the three techniques, electricity and paraffin were the most used type of energy source. However, electricity usage was ahead of paraffin. Rationalization and use of the power of the optimum of these powers are required. MANOVA was the preferred method in terms of ease of use and interpretation of the results.