An investigation of double energy vulnerability during the recent economic turmoil in Sri Lanka
by Maneka Jayasinghe, E.A. Selvanathan and Saroja Selvanathan
Abstract: Double energy vulnerability (DEV) implies a circumstance whereby people are at increased risk of domestic energy poverty (DEP) and transport-related energy poverty (TEP) simultaneously. Although there is a growing body of literature on analysing DEP, little attention has been paid to analysing DEP and TEP as one overarching problem related to overall energy consumption. This study uses a novel Double Energy Vulnerability Index (DEVI) to examine the prevalence of DEV in Sri Lanka. The data have been sourced from the 2019 Sri Lankan Household Income and Expenditure Survey. The results reveal that about 37% of households in Sri Lanka were double energy vulnerable before the domestic economic crisis. The crisis, which peaked in mid-2022, has tipped a further 5% of households, about 1.05 million people, into double energy vulnerability. This situation can severely affect the life outcomes of people in developing countries, such as Sri Lanka creating lasting negative implications on human wellbeing. This research invites increased attention from researchers and policymakers to consider energy poverty as an overarching concept that extends beyond the domestic sphere. Hence, a targeted and systematic approach is required to address socio-demographic and spatial disparities in energy poverty in the domestic and transport settings.