ERC Commissioner General, Pavel Oimeke. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has hinted at having electricity units measured in Kenyan Shilling than the usual US Dollar, a situation that has seen consumers pay more due to currency fluctuations.
The use of local currency will promote local financing that will lead to reduction of power cost to consumers .
In an interview with The Star, ERC Acting Commissioner General, Pavel Oimeke said that they are still carrying out tests that will see the electricity measured in the local currency beginning 2019.
“We are looking at a situation where we can denominate small capacities of power purchase agreements to have a component of Kenya Shillings,” Oimeke said.
However, the energy regulator said that they are still testing the possibility of the idea taking effect and they will progressively start rolling out in a phased manner.
“We are hoping that this is going to be done next year where we will start with small capacities and also test to see the challenges that come with it,” Oimeke said.
Electricity consumers are paying sh. 1.25 per kilowatt up from sh.0.83 charged 10 years ago when the Kenyan shilling was trading at sh. 75.26 against the Dollar.