Power Costs to Rise by Ksh5.24 per Unit in October as EPRA Adjusts Electricity Tariffs
Electricity prices Kenya EPRA review: Electricity bills are set to rise again in October after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) reviewed power charges, adding Ksh5.24 per unit of consumption.
The new rates, published in the Kenya Gazette, will see both prepaid and postpaid customers pay more for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity consumed.
Fuel and Forex Costs Push Prices Up
According to EPRA, the fuel energy cost charge is the biggest contributor to the increase, and it has risen by Ksh3.69 per unit due to higher generation costs.
The regulator also factored in a foreign exchange adjustment of Ksh1.53 per kWh, reflecting the effect of the weakening shilling on energy imports.
The Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) also added a smaller charge of 1.24 cents per unit as a levy to support water resource conservation initiatives.
Higher Bills for Households
The adjustments mean a household consuming 30 units of electricity per month will now pay about Ksh157 more in October. The new costs are in addition to existing levies, including the 16% Value Added Tax (VAT), a 5% Rural Electrification Programme (REP) Levy, and an EPRA charge of 3 cents per unit.
EPRA Defends Price Review
EPRA explained that the monthly review is necessary to reflect changes in fuel and forex costs, ensuring the stability of electricity supply. However, consumer groups warn that the move could worsen the cost-of-living burden for many Kenyan families.
