Cost-Efficiency Assessment of Power-Distribution Systems in Tanzanian Rural Settings: A Randomized Field Trial

Power distribution systems in Tanzanian rural settings are often inefficient and costly, leading to poor service delivery and high maintenance costs. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 100 households randomly assigned to receive either traditional or state-of-the-art power distribution systems. Data on energy usage, maintenance costs, and system reliability were collected over six months. The advanced power-distribution system showed a 25% reduction in maintenance costs compared to the traditional system (p < 0.01), with no significant difference in overall energy consumption. The randomized field trial demonstrated that state-of-the-art power distribution systems are more cost-effective in Tanzanian rural settings, reducing maintenance expenses by approximately 25%. Policy makers should consider implementing these advanced systems to improve service delivery and reduce operational costs in Tanzania's rural areas. Power Distribution Systems, Rural Energy Access, Cost-Effectiveness, Randomized Field Trial The maintenance outcome was modelled as Yᵢₜ=β₀+β₁Xᵢₜ+uᵢ+εᵢₜ, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.