Kimberley O’Sullivan
MPH, PhD Candidate
My PhD research will investigate the distributional effects of purchasing utilities on New Zealand households, with a focus on electricity and water. This will be studied in the context of future climate change policies.
To maintain health people need to be able to adequately heat their homes and have access to water services. In preparing for climate change effects thought must also be given to future requirements for New Zealanders to achieve adequate cooling during extreme heat weather events. Access to energy services that provide heating and cooling, may be essential for maintaining good health; however it is not mandatory that these services be provided. In addition to paying for electricity, there is evidence to suggest that purchasing other utilities such as water is a significant problem for some New Zealand families. My PhD will explore these critical issues.
My recent research (for Master of Public Health) explored the social implications of fuel poverty in New Zealand, through a qualitative study with the participants of the Warm Homes Pilot Study. My research found that fuel poverty is a real problem experienced by the participants of the study and their community, and that electricity vouchers are a useful tool that could be used as part of a range of policy options to reduce fuel poverty.
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