The relentless surge in power bills calls for drastic action that will cushion electricity consumers.
With consumers already complaining about being overcharged in their November and December power bills, there seems to be no end in sight to the increases.
The Energy Regulatory Commission has increased the forex levy in power bills for January to a five-month high of Sh1.40 per kilowatt hour from Sh1.16 per unit last month.
The move will see power bills rise by about Sh200 million in total. The rises are expected to push up inflation pressure, which had eased to a 55-momth low of 4.50 per cent last month from 4.73 per cent due to easing food prices.
Power prices have a direct bearing on inflation since it is one of the items in basket of goods and services whose pricing is tracked to measure the cost of living.
Though the fuel charge dropped by five cents to Sh4,30 per unit, the benefits were wiped out by the increase in inflation levy by Sh0.03 per unit forex charge by Sh0.24.
The government must find a way of easing the bills burden from the shoulders of power consumers.
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