Evaluating Energy Access in Informal Settlements by On Site Survey. The Case of Reta Velha (Itaboraí) and Jardim Bom Retiro (São Gonçalo).

This paper presents the results of a survey on two informal settlements in Rio De Janeiro: Reta Velha (Itaboraí) and Jardim Bom Retiro (São Gonçalo). A detailed analysis of energy poverty and energy access has been accomplished by questionnaires carried out in 400 households. The questionnaire was based on a multi-tier approach. It was aimed at exploring the actual energy access and energy poverty in favelas, in addition to draw the local living conditions and the availability of the basic services. The outcomes of the research underline the problem of outages and low tension, and illegal connections. Furthermore, electricity consumption is very high compared to the service they provide, and expenditures are generally disproportioned to the households’ income. In brief, energy poverty is a status in which are 50% of households are in Jardim Bom Retiro and 20% in Reta Velha. These figures well represent the universe of informal settlements in Latin America and Caribbean.