Kenya Power to spend Sh10.5b on new substations

Kenya Power managing director Ben Chumo. PHOTO | FILE |

What you need to know:

  • The firm says the substation projects are financed using the company’s internally generated funds and borrowings and are implemented under the Kenya Electricity Modernisation Project (KEMP).

Kenya Power will invest a total of Sh10.45 billion to finance the construction of 36 new substations with the aim of reinforcing the country’s electricity network, the company’s managing director Ben Chumo said Tuesday.

Besides enhancing the system in readiness for the evacuation of additional power generation under the 5,000+ MW plan, Dr Chumo said the new substations, to be located in 23 counties across the country, will help improve power supply to electricity customers as well as provide capacity to support economic growth.

Speaking during a press conference in Nairobi, Dr Chumo revealed that the substation projects are financed using the company’s internally generated funds and borrowings and are implemented under the Kenya Electricity Modernisation Project (KEMP).

Kenya Power has in the last financial year spent Sh11 billion in construction of 19 sub-stations, 27 line upgrade projects as well as undertaken 38 system upgrade projects across the country to modernise the network.

These connectivity upgrades are in line with Kenya Power’s aim to boost connections by one million in the current fiscal year, representing a 34 per cent growth on the firm’s customer base of 2.9 million users.

The firm also plans to introduce smart metering systems to reduce overhead costs and stop revenue leakages brought by inaccurate billing.

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