Kenya Power has linked up with the National Youth Service (NYS) to digitize the remaining 30% of its network.
The countrywide exercise, which the World Bank has funded under the Kenya Electricity Management Programme (KEMP) at the cost of KSh 225 Million, will be covered by 770 NYS officers, 700 servicemen and women, and 70 supervisors.
It kicks off this Monday 19th July 2021.
This Facilities Database (FDB) digital platform data clean-up exercise will facilitate the digitization of the Kenya Power network and provide the grid automation project framework.
Kenya Power service delivery
The electricity distributor uses Geographical Information System (GIS) application to capture, analyse, manage and store its transmission and distribution facilities data.
According to Bernard Ngugi, Kenya Power MD and Chief Executive, the exercise aims to enable the electricity distributor to be more effective and efficient in customer service delivery.
KPLC has already digitized more than 70% of its network that comprises 295 primary sub-stations, 83 transmission substations and 73,486 secondary substations, and high and medium voltage lines measuring 77,990.69 kilometres.
The National Youth Service is to cover the remaining 30% of the KPLC network, including 8.2 million metres and low voltage lines measuring 166,623.84Kms.
Consumer meters will be hooked to their respective transformers to show their present location.
According to Ngugi, the digitization exercise will provide the Company with an accurate register of its assets to enable the firm to improve its operational and technical capabilities.
Kenya Power will also be able to identify losses hotspots and take immediate corrective action.
The digitization exercise will also assist the Company in identifying overloaded, under-utilized, and imbalanced transformers.
With the precise mapping of customer meters, the Company will also improve on billing and revenue collection.
Kenya Power runs most of the country’s electricity transmission and distribution system and sold electricity to over 8.2 million customers at the end of May 2021.
