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Energy justice is a growing area of interest in interdisciplinary energy research. However, identifying systematic biases in the energy sector remains challenging due to confounding variables, intricate heterogeneity in treatment effects, and limited data availability. To address these challenges, we introduce a novel approach for counterfactual causal analysis centered on energy justice. We use subgroup analysis to manage diverse factors and leverage the idea of transfer learning to mitigate data scarcity in each subgroup. In our numerical analysis, we apply our method to a large-scale customer-level power outage data set and investigate the counterfactual effect of demographic factors, such as income and age of the population, on power outage durations. Our results indicate that low-income and elderly-populated areas consistently experience longer power outages, regardless of weather conditions. This points to existing biases in the power system and highlights the need for focused improvements in areas with economic challenges.
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Addressing machine learning bias to foster energy justice
Energy justice advocates for the equitable and accessible provision of energy services, mainly focusing on marginalized communities. Adopting machine learning in analyzing energy-related data can unintentionally reinforce social inequalities. This perspective highlights the stages in the machine learning process where biases may emerge, from data collection and model development to deployment. Each phase presents distinct challenges and consequences, ultimately influencing the fairness and accuracy of machine learning models. The ramifications of machine learning bias within the energy sector are profound, encompassing issues such as inequalities, the perpetuation of negative feedback loops, privacy concerns regarding, and economic impacts arising from energy burden and energy poverty. Recognizing and rectifying these biases is imperative for leveraging technology to advance society rather than perpetuating existing injustices. Addressing biases at the intersection of energy justice and machine learning requires a comprehensive approach, acknowledging the interconnectedness of social, economic, and technological factors.
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- PAR ID:
- 10529883
- Publisher / Repository:
- Elsevier
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Energy Research & Social Science
- Volume:
- 116
- Issue:
- C
- ISSN:
- 2214-6296
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 103653
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103653
