A Study on Rural Energy Consumption and Household Behaviour in Theni District

Abstract

Energy plays a vital role in improving the standard of living and promoting the socio-economic development of rural households. The present study mainly focuses on the pattern of household energy consumption for cooking, lighting, and water heating purposes in rural areas. It also examines the factors responsible for changes in energy consumption and identifies the major difficulties faced by rural households in accessing and utilizing different sources of energy. The study is based on both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data were collected from sample households selected through the random sampling method from different rural regions of Theni District. Percentage analysis and the Chi-Square test were employed to analyse the collected data. The findings of the study reveal a significant shift from traditional energy sources such as firewood, agricultural residues, and dung cakes to modern commercial energy sources like LPG and electricity. The study concludes that socio-economic progress, modernization, improved living standards, changing lifestyles, and the greater availability of commercial energy sources have considerably influenced and transformed the energy consumption behaviour of rural households in Theni District.