Energy Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge. [Photo: KNA]
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country will from March next year start enjoying a reduction in power tariffs at night in an incentive that currently targets only large power consumers.
Energy Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge says the initiative targets at least 55,000 consumers with a monthly consumption of over 500 units and will also be implemented between 10 pm and 6 am.
According to Kenya Power, 5,967 smart meters have already been installed at premises of large power consumers who consume above 15,000 units of power on a monthly basis and are expected to begin enjoying the power reduction incentive between 10 PM and 6 AM following the announcement by President Uhuru Kenyatta that manufacturers will enjoy reduced tariffs during the night.
According to Njoroge, the new incentive is expected to increase manufacturing output as well as power demand which has grown 4.4% from 1,586MW last year, to 1656MW this year.
In total, 15,736 smart meters have been installed for large and small power consumers.
Kenya Power has however assured shareholders that the move will increase consumption during off-peak hours enabling the firm to sustain electricity revenue growth which now stands at Sh92 billion.
MD Dr. Ken Tarus, however, says the new meters that will be installed will not be preloaded with units.
Njoroge stated that evacuation of 310MW from Lake Turkana is expected by September 2018 as they were speaking during Kenya Power’s 96TH AGM in Nairobi.