The long dry spell has been blamed for the massive decrease of water in hydro dams. [Photo/businessdailyafrica.com]Kenyans will continue to pay high electricity bills despite the ongoing short rains.The rains were expected to boost power production at the country's main hydroelectricity dams.However, according to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the impact of short rains is yet to be felt due to the effects of the prolonged dry spell which forced power generating firms to continue relying heavily on thermal electricity generators.ERC acting director-general Robert Oimeke told The Standard that water levels in major hydro dams are yet to reach desired levels."It takes time to fill the dams. We also over-utilized the water in the dams due to the long dry spell to the extent that there was a time the gates of Masinga dam had to be opened because the levels went too low. Due to this poor hydrology, we have to rely on thermal generation for now. In the short-term, this will improve," Oimeke said.He also noted that in the months of October and November, there has been a surge in demand for electricity by consumers."Demand has also grown. It means we are almost exhausting power from the cheap sources of geothermal and hydro and now have to use the next level, which is expensive. It is better to give expensive power than no power at all," he further told the local daily.The latest Fuel Cost Charge (FCC) published by ERC in a gazette notice early this week has gone up to Sh4.35 per unit of electricity (kilowatt hour) consumed this month, which is 30 per cent more than the Sh3.35 charged in October.The cost of fuel used in the generation of electricity is passed directly to the consumers and is captured in the monthly bill as FCC.

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