More power to you: electricity and people with physical disability

This research has highlighted that people with physical disability face four layers of disadvantage:

1. Low incomes mean struggling to afford electricity; 
2. Disability brings additional general costs (eg, wheelchairs, special food, medication); 
3. Disability brings additional energy costs; and 
4. Disability can inhibit people realising benefits from traditional energy efficiency measures.

This paper focuses on the third and fourth layers noted above and suggests some short and medium- term actions that can be taken in relation to energy policy so as to reduce the risks of disadvantage faced by people with physical disability.