Electricity tokens. [Photo/moseax.co.ke]Kenya Power plans to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with smart meters to enable them also benefit from government’s directive that manufacturers’ power tariff be reduced by 50 percent between 10 pm and 6 am Following the directive, the power distributor has now said it will merge the off-peak and on-peak power consumers to serve them better.
Only big manufacturers have been fitted with the gadgets. A smart meter is a new electronic device that can digitally send meter readings to a consumers’ energy supplier for more accurate bills. They come with in-home displays, so one can better understand his or her energy usage.
Most manufacturing companies in the country still use old meters that require consumption reading before billing the user. Kenya Power chief executive officer, Kenneth Tarus who spoke during the firm’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Nairobi, the new directive by the government is meant to make the firms increase production.
Tarus said the SMEs if well-nourished can help the country in creating jobs for the youth in various sectors, thereby driving economic growth. Low tariffs, he said will help grow and sustain the manufacturing sector and raise its share of growth from nine to 15 percent.
Speaking during his inauguration, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the country’s manufacturing sector is the primary vehicle for the creation of decent jobs.
During the AGM, shareholders approved the payment of Sh0.50 per ordinary share for the year ended June 30, 2017, subject to withholding tax.
Kenya Power chairman Kenneth Marende said the dividends which amount to Sh363 million will be paid on January 31, 2018. He said the company is now centering its priority on infrastructure development, effective network management, customer focus, loss reduction and resource alignment.