The Empirial Analysis Of Rural Energy Consumption

Energy provides a variety of material resources for the human society development. It is an important material basis for the national economy. Changzhou is located in economically developed areas. With the gradual development of economic, and the improvement of rural household’s living standards, energy consumption in rural areas has become an important component of household consumption. The consumption type, consumption level and consumption structure is not only related to the sustainable development of rural energy, but also affects rural economic development. Overall, the level of energy utilization in rural areas of Changzhou has gradually increased. However, there are still some outstanding contradictions and problems about the energy consumption structure. And compared with rural areas in surrounding cities, the gap in energy saving is obvious.By the use of the statistical data of energy consumption in last ten years and the data of household’s living energy consumption in sample areas, this paper empirically studies status of rural energy consumption and the key factors which affect rural household’s energy consumption behaviors.Firstly, from a statistical point of view, this paper analyzes rural energy consumption structure and determinants in Changzhou. And correlation analysis, factor analysis and gray relational method are all used to analyze the rural energy consumption. Meanwhile, by the evaluation about the importance of factors affecting the energy consumption, it is reached that per capita net income is the most important factor.And then, it establishes an appropriate econometric model for analyzing the factors how to affect status of rural energy consumption and rural household’s energy consumption behaviors. In order to analyze the consumer behavior comprehensively, Logit model, Tobit model and General multivariate regression model are used to discuss the factors which affect energy selection, consumption level and consumption structure. By the Logit model, it is showed that the family wealth, the availability of resources, energy prices and family characteristics are the important factors affecting the rural household’s traditional non-commodity energy and gas energy selection. While, this paper uses Tobit model to analyze the traditional non-commodity energy and LPG consumption level, and uses the general multivariate regression model to analyze power consumption level. Meanwhile, it is found that the family wealth, the availability of resources, energy prices and family characteristics affect the level various types of energy significantly. Here, using the Tobit model for the proportion of traditional non-commodity energy, LPG and high-quality energy, it is stating clearly that with the rise of per capita net income, enhancement of resource availability and improvement of education level, the rural energy consumption structure escalated constantly. Finally, based on the above findings, in order to improve the level and structure of energy consumption in rural areas of Changzhou, many recommendations are proposed to guide farmers to use rural energy rationally. There are included five recommendations. First of all is to establish and improve the rural energy policies, laws and regulations. The second one is to perfect the rural market economy and provide more non-farm jobs. The next is to improve education level andchange the rural household’s energy consumption preferences and habits. And then it is to use new energy rationally.The last one is to Increase the rural energy investment and strengthen the construction of energy facilities in rural areas.