Jeff Koinange, the popular media personality, recently sparked a conversation online when he revealed that his monthly electricity bill is Sh50,000. This amount is significantly lower than the Sh72,000 he was paying back in 2018. Speaking on his show “Jeff Koinange Live” (JKL) on Citizen TV, Koinange expressed his concern about the high electricity costs, especially considering that he doesn’t own a factory or any large-scale equipment that would typically account for such a bill. He even speculated that someone might be tapping into his electricity line.
John Mativo, the Managing Director of KETRACO (Kenya Electricity Transmission Company), who was a guest on the show, responded by advising Jeff to conduct an efficiency audit of his household. Mativo explained that sometimes household appliances, particularly older ones, could be consuming more power than expected. He shared an example from his own experience, mentioning that his mother’s electricity bill dropped by half after replacing an old fridge. Mativo encouraged people to regularly monitor their power usage and ensure that there are no items in their homes or businesses that might be wasting electricity.
During the discussion, Koinange raised the possibility of someone illegally tapping into his electricity line, asking if there was any way to catch those responsible. Mativo reassured him that with the right monitoring systems in place, it is possible to identify and address such issues.
The issue of high electricity costs has been a concern for many Kenyan consumers. In 2018, Koinange publicly questioned the high electricity charges during an interview with then Energy Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge. At that time, he was paying a staggering Sh72,000 per month, which led him to inquire about possible solutions to reduce electricity costs for consumers. In response to similar concerns, Kenya Power (KPLC), the company responsible for transmitting and distributing electricity in Kenya, had previously explained why some customers receive different amounts of electricity tokens for the same payment. The company clarified that each meter is assigned a unique tariff, which depends on the customer’s energy consumption.
Kenya Power further elaborated that the tariff structure is based on the number of units consumed, with different rates for different levels of usage. For example, customers who consume between 0 and 30 units are charged at a lower rate of Ksh12.22 per unit, while those consuming more than 30 units but less than 100 units are charged at Ksh16.30 per unit. For those consuming over 100 units, the rate increases to Ksh20.97 per unit. These rates are set by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which divides consumers into categories such as lifeline and domestic. Lifeline consumers, typically those using less than 100 units per month, benefit from the lowest tariff rates, while domestic consumers, who use between 100 and 15,000 units monthly, are subject to higher rates.
The issue of fluctuating electricity bills has been a frequent topic of discussion in Kenya, especially as many consumers struggle with the high cost of living. There are also concerns about the accuracy of the billing system and whether the electricity meters are correctly measuring usage. This has led to calls for more transparent billing practices and better oversight to ensure that consumers are only charged for the electricity they actually use.
Mativo’s advice to regularly monitor energy efficiency is seen as a key step in addressing high electricity costs. By identifying and eliminating inefficient appliances or systems, households and businesses can potentially reduce their electricity consumption and lower their bills. The implementation of regular efficiency audits, as recommended by Mativo, could help more people in Kenya manage their energy use and avoid the frustration of unexpectedly high bills.
As the conversation continues, many people are looking for solutions to better manage their energy usage and avoid the financial strain caused by rising electricity costs. The hope is that with more widespread awareness and the adoption of efficiency practices, Kenyans will be able to reduce their electricity consumption and, ultimately, their monthly bills.
