Fiji

FIJI Post-Disaster Needs Assessment
Table 62: Estimated Losses in the Electricity Sector (F$)
Cost Estimate
FEA loss of revenue from disconnected customers 3,530,479
Medium-term loss of revenue from an estimated 1,500 customers whose houses have been destroyed 40,000
Higher operational costs from temporary reliance on diesel backup 4,500,000
DoE loss of revenue from solar home systems 50,000
Total 8,120,479
Source: Fiji Electricity Authority; Department of Energy.
Social Impact of Damage and Losses
In light of the increasing use of firewood, especially in rural areas (where firewood is used by 77 percent of the population), 106
the abundance of firewood left by the cyclone (from downed trees) probably represents a gain for households. For women,
who typically are responsible for gathering firewood, the cyclone reduced the time needed for that chore. (Women who were
interviewed confirmed this benefit.) However, the impact of the cyclone on electricity supply has substantially increased the
amount of time women spend doing laundry, both in rural and urban settings. In some areas, women will continue to face
these challenges until mid-year, when FEA anticipates full reconnection at the household level. Baseline data on washing
machine use at the household level suggest a washing machine penetration rate of 70 percent. 107 Because washing must
now be done manually, time allocated for laundry has increased from about 30 minutes a week to around three hours
a week. Lack of electricity combined with disruptions in water supply has increased the domestic work burden and left
women with very limited time for income-generating activities.
In addition to affecting women’s household burden, lack of electricity also affects women’s opportunities for social and
economic advancement. Electricity provides the mechanical power that women use for agricultural food processing,
cooking, lighting, refrigeration, communications and commercial enterprises, while minimising the time expended on
domestic work. Electricity supply disruptions have, therefore, undermined women’s ability to derive livelihoods that depend
on electricity (for example, rural economic activities, such as virgin coconut oil production).
Less visible perhaps is the impact of electricity on women’s and girls’ safety and sense of security. Following TC Winston,
women and girls reported feeling insecure about going to sleep at night. 108 Lighting is a good deterrent to violence and its
absence could put women at heightened risk.
Speedy restoration of electricity is essential for the return of power-dependent livelihoods and safety. In terms of helping
communities prepare for future cyclones, training men and women in securing their solar panels and equipment ahead of
impending cyclones would be beneficial.
Recovery and Reconstruction Needs for the Electricity Sector (F$34 million)
Total recovery and reconstruction costs for the electricity sector have been estimated at F$33.8 million (Table 63). Recovery
needs include:
Table 63: Total Recovery and Reconstruction Needs for the Electricity Sector (F$ million)
Recovery Reconstruction Resilience Total
Generation 1.8 1.8
Transmission 6.7 6.7
Distribution and Retail 17.4 17.4
Communications 2.0 2.0
106
Fiji Bureau of Statistics, Household Income and Employment Survey, 2008/2009.
107
Between 2002 and 2008, household-level washing machine usage increased from 15 percent to 31 percent. Assuming the same rate of
increase, household-level washing machine usage is now at 70 percent.
108
“Fiji Gender Based Violence Sub-Cluster Key Advocacy Note,” April 9, 2016.
90 Tropical Cyclone Winston, February 20, 2016