Examining the Provincial-Level Difference and Impact Factors of Urban Household Electricity Consumption in China—Based on the Extended STIRPAT Model

Abstract

With increasing urbanisation, urban household electricity consumption (UHEC) has become the most dynamic aspect of China’s energy growth. However, existing studies suffer from outdated data, a small scope, and a lack of research into new influencing factors. There are significant challenges to the promotion of urban household energy-efficiency strategies, which may arise from the intervention of several new inter-provincial differences and other influencing factors. To better understand the variability, volatility characteristics, and influencing factors of change in provincial UHEC, this study analyses and assesses the influencing factors based on an extended STIRPAT model of Chinese provincial panel data from 2005 to 2020. The findings revealed rapid increases in provincial urban household electricity consumption and significant provincial differences in UHEC in China stemming from variation in economic level and energy use. Urbanisation, income, the size of the older population, and area per capita contributed to household electricity consumption. Conversely, household size, heating days (HDD), and air conditioning dampened household electricity consumption. However, television and cooling days (CDD) did not accurately explain the variation in household electricity use in this study. Finally, this study suggests targeted policy recommendations that could promote the implementation of energy-efficiency strategies in Chinese urban households.