Electricity Bills in Kenya: The cost of living is set to go high. This is because Kenya Power has applied to raise for permission to slap Kenyans with high power bills.
Kenya power applied for this raise to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). The application shows that Kenya Power is seeking to increase the consumption charge for Kenyans who consuming less than 100 kilowatts per month to Sh. 12.50 a unit, up from the current Sh. 10.
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“Homes consuming 50 units monthly increase to Sh. 961 from the current Sh. 816, representing a 17.8 percent jump when other charges like taxes, inflation and fuel and forex levies are incorporated. Households consuming 200 units will get a bill of Sh. 5,477 from the current Sh. 4,612, reflecting a 18.8 percent rise, given their consumption charge will rise to Sh. 19.53 per unit from the current Sh. 15.80 in the event that the regulator approves the proposed tariff,” says a report that appeared in the Business Daily on Tuesday.
The paper further reports that small businesses like barber shops and welders will be the hardest hit by the initial review of electricity bills in Kenya. The micro businesses consuming 200 units will see their bill rise to Sh. 5,435 from the current Sh. 4,565, reflecting a 19.1 percent rise.
“Kenya Power assumes that the Retail Tariffs Application to adjust non-fuel base tariffs shall be approved in its entirety as the company may face operational challenges if review is not granted,’’ Kenya Power wrote to the regulator in the application. “The company may become financially unviable since its required continued improvement in service needs substantial investment.”