Kenya Power has withdrawn an application to increase bills by up to a fifth, shifting its focus to lowering costs, curbing electricity theft and recovery of unpaid bills amounting to over KSh27 billion.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter Wednesday says the firm has recalled the application that was submitted to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) in 2019.
In the application, the firm had sought to increase the consumption charge for usage of less than 100 kilowatts per month to KSh12.40 per unit from current KSh10. The charge for consuming above 100 units was to rise to kSh19.53 a unit from the current KSh15.80.
Keter says the withdrawal was prompted by the new directors appointed last year, who prefer cost cutting, sales growth and reduction of power bought from generators that does not reach home and businesses, technically known as system losses, to tariff increases.
Power bills hit a 38-month high in August following an increase in the fuel surcharge levied on electricity tariffs, adding pain to consumers already smarting from high cost of petrol, diesel, kerosene, and cooking gas.
Meanwhile, Kenya Power has received a $1 million grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa(SEFA) to create a Super Energy Service Company(ESCO). The Super ESCO by (KPLC) will develop and implement energy efficiency projects for both the public and private sectors.
Super ESCOs are vehicles for channelling funds into public sector energy efficiency investments such as hospitals, schools, and street lighting, laying the foundation for private investment later in the commercial and industrial sectors.
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