Electricity bills up in three-months high

Electricity bills up in three-months high

Electricity bills have jumped by the highest margin since May 2014, reflecting the impact of increased use of expensive thermal power on household budgets.

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data shows households that consumed 200 kilowatt hours (Kwh) of electricity paid Ksh 3,684 up from Ksh 3,291 the previous month.

Homes using 50 units paid Ksh 605 up from Ksh 507, which is the highest rise since last May when electricity costs rose by Ksh 111.

This also marks the biggest jump in electricity prices since Kenya injected additional 280 megawatts of cheaper geothermal power between August and December, which were expected to cut energy costs significantly on reduced use of thermal power.

But the shutdown of a number of geothermal power plants forced Kenya Power to seek more expensive thermal power.

An extra fuel charge is added to normal power rates depending on the amount of diesel generation used and global fuel costs.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) had faulted the heavy uptake of thermal electricity and directed Kenya Power to revert to a mix that would stop the cost surge.

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kenya power Electricity Electricity bills BILLS

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