Increasing use of thermal sources of energy will see the cost of power go up in the coming months, sector regulator has said.
The Energy Regulatory Commission says more power from generators will be looped into the national grid as rainfall projections for the year remain lower, overriding the benefits gained from use of wind and solar sources.
Commission director general Pavel Oimeke said although the regulator was finding it difficult to make precise projections on the expected incorporations of the thermal power due to changing weather forecasts, consumers should expect a higher fuel cost charge.
“We expect very low hydro and high thermal dispatch between April and May. Generally, fuel energy charge is expected to be much higher,” Mr Oimeke wrote in a text response to queries.
Kenya has just been through its worst drought in 38 years according to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), setting households for food shortages, water scarcity over and above the pressure on electricity bills.
The below-average rainfall during the so-called long rains season from March to May has seen both the World Bank and the Central Bank of Kenya lower economic growth forecast in which the cost of power plays a critical role.
The fuel surcharge levy — which is influenced by the share of electricity from diesel generators — has been on the rise from Sh2.45 in January to Sh2.50 in September and currently stands at Sh2.75 per KWh (unit).
ERC data shows that drought has seen generation from the cheaper hydro sources drop by 39 per cent or 163 million kilowatt hours (kWh) between August and February.