Electricity prices go up despite President Ruto’s assurance two months ago
Electricity prices have gone up two months after President William Ruto assured consumers that the costs would not shoot up. As per the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra), electricity prices will from next week increase by up to 63 per cent.
This is after the energy sector regulator approved higher tariffs by Kenya Power Company which targets to raise money to fund the upgrade of its aging distribution systems.
Consumers using between 30-100 units will now be paying Sh16.3 from Sh10, a 63 per cent increase effective April. Those consuming more than 100 units of electricity will now pay Sh20.97 per unit up from Sh15.8 currently, a 32 per cent increase.
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“With a view of meeting the social policy objective, the Lifeline Tariff band has been reduced from 100-kilowatt hour(kWh) per month to 30kWh, to cushion and address the needs of low-income households in the society,” Epra said.
“Accordingly, these consumers will be cross-subsidised by the other consumer categories in order to protect the vulnerable members of society. Despite this reduction, the Lifeline Tariff band will account for 6.3 million customers, representing 71.31 per cent of the total number of consumers. This covers a majority of the vulnerable sector base also known as ‘Hustlers’,” it added.
Early this year, President Ruto said there would be no increment in electricity prices in the new year.
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Rubbishing claims of a supposed increase, President Ruto in his first address since ushering in the new year said all subsidies were withdrawn when he became president and that no further removal of subsidies has been pending.
“The decision about some subsidies in unga, fuel, and electricity that were not informed by the science of our economy but the expediency of the political moment that existed that month,” President Ruto said back then.
“I want to assure the country that we removed subsidies in August there will be no additional charges today or going into the future on electricity bills,” he said.
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