Kenyans will have to dig deeper into their pockets to cover the rising cost of electricity for the second month in a row.
This follows an increase in the fuel and foreign exchange components indicated in the power bill by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
The Fuel Cost Charge will increase from Ksh6.79 to Ksh7.09 per unit. Furthermore, the Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment increased from Ksh1.37 to Ksh1.48 per unit.
“The notice is given that all prices for related electrical energy specified in Part II (the Schedule of Tariffs 2018) will be liable to a fuel energy cost charge of plus 709 Kenya cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for all meter readings to be taken in October 2022,” EPRA stated.
Foreign exchange, on the other hand, protects stakeholders in the power sector from the volatility of the local currency during material importation and loan repayment. The sum is expressed in US dollars.
The current exchange rate of one US dollar to Kenya shillings is Ksh121, indicating that the local currency has reached an all-time high.
The two components will now force Kenyans to pay much higher token charges, signaling the extent of the country’s high living costs.
Kenyans have complained online about the rate at which tokens are depleted, forcing them to recharge multiple times per month.
