EPRA raises power cost marginally as inflation soars
Kenyans will have to brace themselves for harder times after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) marginally raised the cost of power for this month to 85 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from 67 cents per unit due to inflation.
The energy regulator noted that KenGen incurred an extra cost of Sh753.99 million in the six months to December due to inflation, independent power producers (IPPs) incurred Sh1.14billion and Kenya Power Sh2.27billion during the period.
“Pursuant to Clause 3 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 an inflation adjustment of plus 85 cents per kWh for all meter readings taken in January—June 2023,” said Epra Director-General Daniel Kiptoo in a gazette notice.
This means consumers will get less units of electricity for the same amount of money compared to December.
The cheaper tariffs lapsed on December 31, 2022, but the government has opted not to reinstate the higher tariffs pending a review of the tariffs.
President William Ruto last week said the government is working towards lowering electricity tariffs.
He said that the government will prioritise low-income earners and manufacturers in the tariff review process.
“In three months, we will have public consultation to ensure that we have tariffs that are affordable to those at the bottom of the economic pyramid and our manufacturers,” Ruto said.
