Power struggles: urban heterogeneity and unruly electricity access in Dar es Salaam

Abstract Among the considerable challenges many African utility companies and governments face in universalising electricity access are the economic losses and technical problems resulting from irregular practices of electricity access. Despite its concerted efforts, TANESCO—the Tanzania Electric Supply Company—is no exception to this. Against this backdrop, this study empirically investigates the tensions between energy access and cost recovery goals and the spatially heterogeneous practices of unruly electricity access in Dar es Salaam. Here, organised networks of street electricians act as intermediaries between TANESCO and electricity users and facilitate energy access in a grey zone of illegality, informality and entrepreneurship. We studied two contrasting neighbourhoods in Dar es Salaam: Mabwepande, an unplanned peri-urban neighbourhood with low- to middle-income residents, and Msasani, a low-density neighbourhood of wealthy households and upmarket hotels and businesses. Based on a literature review and the analysis of policy documents, utility reports and statistical data, participatory observations and interviews with key stakeholders, our empirical investigation demonstrates that the phenomenon of widespread unruly energy access practices is far from exclusive to low-income communities: in Msasani, wealthy urban households and local businesses have developed sophisticated practices of energy theft, causing a considerable financial burden to the utility company. Our findings indicate that to address irregular energy access more effectively, more differentiated policy responses are needed that take account of the heterogeneous user experiences within cities and that take advantage of informality and entrepreneurship as potential resources for infrastructural and urban futures.