Kenya Power has begun using a new meter-reading technology known as Optical Character Recognition (OCR) as part of a wider effort to modernise its billing systems and reduce errors.
The system replaces the traditional method where meter readers typed in numbers manually. Instead, the reader only needs to scan the meter display, and the system automatically captures the reading. This shift is expected to save time, boost accuracy and cut down on the billing inconsistencies that customers have long complained about.
According to the company, the introduction of OCR follows a successful six-month pilot carried out in Nairobi from March 2025.
After proving effective in the capital, Kenya Power expanded the technology to all its eight regions across the country. The utility plans to use OCR to read all 1.8 million postpaid meters that still require monthly physical readings. By automating this stage, the company aims to reduce the chances of human error and improve the reliability of customer bills.
Richard Wida, Kenya Power’s Commercial Cycle Manager, said the project is central to the company’s tech-driven transformation.
“Technology is a major driver of our business, and in terms of billing, specifically meter reading, we have been looking at how to make it better and more accurate. With the OCR system, the meter reader will just be required to scan the meter, and the system will pick the meter readings automatically. This will save time and eliminate human error that is likely to occur if the meter reader manually types the readings.”
He added that the goal is to strengthen service delivery and improve the customer experience.
Kenya Power is also looking to extend OCR capabilities to customers themselves. Through the existing self-service platforms, the Mypower App and the USSD code *977#, postpaid consumers already have the option of reading their own meters and submitting the numbers for billing.
The company now plans to integrate OCR into these platforms so that customers can scan the readings on their own meters with little room for mistakes.
“In future, we want to enable the use of OCR in self-reading so that our customers can enjoy the convenience of reading their meters with minimal chance of error,” Wida said.
The adoption of OCR is just one part of Kenya Power’s wider digital shift. The company has already deployed smart meters for large power consumers, SMEs and selected households.
These smart devices allow for two-way communication, which makes it possible to read meters remotely, disconnect or reconnect power without sending technicians, and detect unusual consumption patterns more easily.
Kenya Power says these tools, combined with the rising use of its digital self-service options, are helping reduce long queues at its offices and improving overall efficiency.
By embracing technologies such as OCR, smart metering and mobile self-service, Kenya Power hopes to create a more transparent, faster and customer-friendly billing system.
The company believes these changes will reduce disputes, make meter reading more convenient for both staff and customers, and pave the way for a fully digital future in electricity management.
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