200 megawatts of geothermal energy has temporarily been withdrawn from the national grid, signaling higher power bills by July.

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“This is sacrifice we have to make at the moment to stabilize electricity costs in future,” Energy Regulatory Commission, ERC, director-general Joseph Ng’ang’a, has said.

According Business Daily digital news, Tuesday June 14, ERC has attributed the withdraw of 200 megawatts of geothermal energy from the national grid due to lines repairs following construction works at Suswa substation on the Maai Mahiu-Narok highway.

However, ERC points out that the works carried out by Ketraco (Kenya Electricity Transmission Company) is aimed at improving geothermal energy evacuation, therefore necessitating a shutdown in one of the Suswa-Nairobi transmission line.

“Much as we have surplus cheaper energy, we can’t increase generation as we have limited lines. Otherwise they can overheat and trip the whole system,” said Mr Ng’ang’a.”

According to Business Daily, A unit of thermal power costs more than Sh18 per kilowatt hour (kWh) as compared to hydro (Sh3) and geothermal at Sh7.