Economy

Power consumers to get another refund

KPLC

A Kenya Power technician at work. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Electricity consumers will for the second month get a refund following a review of foreign exchange levy on power bills, offering a slight reprieve to homes that endured the rise in tariffs of up to 52.8 per cent in August.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said homes and business are due for a refund of Sh0.0768 per kilowatt hour (kWh) after it used a higher dollar rate to compute the foreign exchange levy last month. Last month, homes and businesses got a refund of Sh0.013 kWh. The refunds will help curb a rise in electricity bills.

The middle class saw power costs rise up to 52.8 per cent in a new billing structure that took effect on August 1 for prepaid users and July 1 for those of post-paid meters.

The forex levy comprises expenses power generators such as KenGen #ticker:KEGN, the independent power producers as well as Kenya Power #ticker:KPLC incur in foreign currency that is passed on to consumers.