MPH
PhD Candidate
University of Otago, Wellington
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.
Howden-Chapman, P. Viggers, H. Chapman, R. O'Dea, D. Free, S. O'Sullivan, KWarm homes: drivers of the demand for heating in the residential sector in New ZealandEnergy Policy (2009, Volume 37, Issue 9, September 2009, Pages 3387-3399)Download or view online O’Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P., Fougere, G.
Counting the Costs: A survey of electricity prices using different payment plans. - Oral Presentation
In Proceedings of the Massey University Centre for Energy Research Energy Post Graduate Conference Palmerston North, New Zealand. (Nov 2009)
O’Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P., Fougere, G.
Prepaid poverty: Is prepayment metering for electricity a positive budgetary tool, or a costly service? - Oral Presentation
In Proceedings of the Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Conference: Crunch Times – can science make a difference? Palmerston North, New Zealand (November 2009)
O’Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P., Fougere, G
Death by disconnection: Putting fuel poverty on the agenda. - Oral Presentation
In Proceedings of the International Society for Equity in Health Conference. Crete, Greece. (June 2009)
O’Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P., Dew, K., and Viggers, H.
Fuel poverty in New Zealand: What can we know from low income consumers and how can we do better for them? - Oral Presentation
In Proceedings of the National Energy Research Institute Conference: Knowing more, doing better. Wellington, New Zealand. (April 2009)
O’Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P., Dew, K., and Viggers, H.
“Gee my account is in credit!” Using vouchers to mitigate fuel poverty in New Zealand. - Oral Presentation
In Proceedings of the International Congress of Behavioural Medicine. Tokyo, Japan (September 2008)
