Kenyan authorities have announced that it is beginning to fulfil its promise to cut electricity charges by 30 per cent by the end of March 2022, bringing good news to Kenyans burdened with high electricity costs.
President Uhuru Kenyatta promised Kenyans that electricity prices would decline 15 per cent starting in January 2022 in a Gazette notice that was published on Friday.
According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, domestic consumers who consume 100 or more units of electricity per month will pay Sh7.70 in energy charges per unit, while those who consume 100 to 15,000 units will pay Sh12.60.
The Energy Charge for non-domestic small commercial consumers will also be Sh7.70 per unit, while those with consumption between 100 and 15,000 units will pay Sh3.90 in Energy Charge and a Demand Charge of Sh220 per kilovolt-ampere (kVA).
“Notice is given pursuant to section 163 of the Energy Act, 2019, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has amended Part two and Part three of the Schedule of tariffs, prescribing the tariff, charges, prices and rates to be charged by Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited to the consumers for electrical energy,” the Gazette notice stated.
For post-paid billing, Epra announced that commercial and industrial consumers using 132,000 volts would pay Sh7.60 (Energy Charge for each unit consumed), Sh3.80 (Energy Charge during off-peak hours) and Sh220 for Demand Charges per Kva.
“The tariff reduction is a fulfilment of the commitment made by His Excellency President Kenyatta to the nation, on Jamhuri Day 2021 that the first tranche of 15 per cent reduction in the cost of power will be reflected in bills covering the end of year of 2021,” the Ministry of Energy said in a statement, following the Gazettement.
Kenyatta first promised to cut Kenyans’ electricity costs by 30 per cent by December 2021 – a promise that has proven difficult to achieve.
During the Jamhuri Day celebrations, he changed his promise, promising Kenyans a 15 per cent reduction before the end of December, then the remaining 15 per cent by the first quarter of 2022. Prior to Friday’s announcement, however, 2021 ended without fulfilment of the promise.
In the new rates, counties will be charged Sh5.5 per unit for providing street lighting, for every 240 to 405 volts consumed per billing period.