Regulator Denies Increase in Electricity Prices

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has denied claims of electricity price increases for the month of June 2020.

In a statement, EPRA says that it reviewed the base energy charge rates in July 2018 and the rates have remained grounded since then.

“Each month, EPRA computes and gazettes the applicable pass-through parameters including the Fuel Energy Cost (FEC), Forex Adjustment (FOREX ADJ.), and Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) levy and reviews the Inflation Adjustment biannually,” EPRA said in a statement.

“The Inflation Adjustment and the WRMA levy have remained relatively stable over the past twelve (12) months,” further read the statement.

According to EPRA Director-General Pavel Oimeke, fuel energy costs have been declining as a result of good hydrology as well as the government’s efforts “to shift away from expensive and dirty energy sources to cleaner and renewable sources of energy like solar and wind”.

The clarification statement issued by EPRA followed reports by different media outlets that quoted a fake notice by Oimeke that increased the fuel energy cost charge by Ksh2.40 per kWh (Kilowatts per hour).

“This change was made pursuant to clause 2 of Part III of the Schedule of Tariffs 2018. All prices for electrical energy will also be liable to a foreign exchange fluctuation adjustment of plus 31.84 Kenyan cents per kWh,” the said Gazette notice said.

The new pricing was alleged to take effect from all meter readings of June 2020.

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