Powering Lives, Not Just Light Bulbs: Energy Poverty in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, conversations about energy access often begins and ends with hydroelectricity. National electrification in the country has been celebrated as a sign of progress, with hydropower dams and grid expansion projects often portraying powerful images. Homes lit by bulbs, children reading under lamps, and communities connected to national grid. These images symbolize progress, but they also tell only part of the story. Energy access in Ethiopia is not just about lightbulbs in the house; it rather about whether people can afford energy, whether it is reliable, and whether it truly improves livelihoods. Without this broader perspective, investments in electrification risks being a bright façade over persistent energy poverty.

A great majority of Ethiopians still rely on traditional biomass such as firewood, charcoal, and dung for household cooking. Heavy dependence on biomass fuels not only accelerates deforestation and environmental stress but also has serious health consequences. Indoor pollution is disproportionately affecting women and children who spend time around cook stoves. A story of energy access that ignores clean cooking leaves millions to health risks and environmental vulnerability.

Even for families connected to the grid, reliability and affordability remain serious challenges. Frequent power outages, voltage fluctuations, and rising tariffs strain already limited household incomes. For small businesses, unreliable energy means lost  income, damaged equipment, and slowed growth. This undermines the very development elasticity is meant to support.

The story of energy poverty in Ethiopia is also one of social and geographic inequalities. For example, rural areas where the majority of Ethiopians live, are often the least to benefit from electrification projects. This uneven distribution of access  and benefits deepens the urban-rural divide and leaves marginalized populations excluded from modern energy services.

Addressing energy poverty in Ethiopia requires shifting the focus from simply counting connection to measuring the real impact on people’s lives. Energy policies must prioritize not just how many are connected but also ‘how well people can use energy to improve their livelihoods. The shift must go further and embrace multidimensional approaches. For instance, expanding decentralized solar solutions, investing in clean cooking technologies, and ensuring affordable and reliable supply must complement large-scale energy infrastructure projects.

Ultimately, true energy access must be understood not as merely  turning on lightbulbs, but as powering lives and serving as a means to improved livelihoods, greater equity, and sustainable development for all Ethiopians.