The cost of electricity and the resultant raised cost of production and high price of consumer goods will usher in a gloomy festive season after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced an increase in electricity prices for the third time in four months by 5.2 per cent
The public notice was made through a gazette notice by authority Director-General Daniel Kiptoo.
The energy regulator has raised the Fuel Cost Charge (FCC) from Sh6.36 per unit to Sh7.12 per Unit with foreign exchange rate fluctuation adjustment (Ferfa) hiking from Sh1.41 to Sh2.07 per unit.
“Pursuant to Clause 1 of Part III of the schedule of Tariffs 2018, notice is given that all prices for electrical energy specified in part II of the said schedule will be liable to a fuel energy cost charge of plus 712 Kenya cents per kWh for all meter readings to be taken in December 2022,” the notice read in part.
The increase reflects tougher and harder times ahead with annual inflation rate hitting 9.5 per cent last month with households already feeling the pinch of increased costs of other commodities.
The rise shows no hope to electricity dependent households living in poverty will have to part with Sh20 from Sh19 for every 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.
The power prices increases will automatically reverse the drop in the cost of the commodity by a similar margin last month and is the third time EPRA is increasing the prices in four months after similar increases in September and October.
Recently, Kenya Power revealed plans to bill some of its customers in foreign currency and the adjustments are meant to cater fuel energy and foreign exchange fluctuation costs incurred by the company.
