Do areas with a higher proportion of single-person households save more on electricity consumption? Evidence from the difference-in-differences model

Household size has an important impact on household energy consumption, but the effect of the proportion of single-person households on urban household electricity consumption (UHEC) in different regions needs to be clarified. Based on data from 30 provinces from 2005 to 2020, this study examines the effect of the proportion of single-person households (USPH) in urban households on UHEC and its influence mechanism under the influence of the implementation of the two-child policy through a double-difference model (DID). The conclusions are as follows: (1) UHEC will decrease by 4.9 % when the USPH reaches 13.15 %, and the increase of USPH effectively inhibits the growth of UHEC; (2) the inequality of UHEC is higher both inter-regionally and intra-regionally, with the largest difference between East and West, the smallest difference between Midwest and West, and the western region has the most serious inequality in UHEC and the USPH has an inhibitory effect; (3) the mechanism test shows that the effect of USPH on UHEC is closely related to regional GDP, urban population density and regional fiscal expenditure. Finally, corresponding policy recommendations are proposed.