Despite significant sustained total population growth (from 3.173 billion in 1990 to 4.345 billion in 2014), as of 2014, the average total electrification rate in the region was 90.3 per cent, up from 70.2 per cent in 1990.2 This amounts to more than 71 million people gaining access to electric power each year. Energy access is measured in the tiered-spectrum, from Tier 0 (no access) to Tier 5 (the highest level of access). Beyond Connections: Energy Access Redefined, ESMAP Technical Report;008/15. Significant market barriers prevent consumers and firms from purchasing cost-effective energy efficient equipment and appliances. The result is an energy efficiency gap in which the level of efficiency achieved is lower than the level judged to be optimal at prevailing market prices.