Kenya Power Blocked From Disconnecting Customers Over Disputed Bills In New Regulations

• Kenyans have been paying up to KSh 13,000 as a reconnection fee when KPLC disconnects power in their homes
• This could change if the Energy (Electricity Reliability, Quality of Supply and Service) Regulations 2024 are passed
• According to EPRA, the solving of power bill disputes between consumers and KPLC will take a maximum of 60 days

TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto brings over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has proposed new regulations that will see Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) prevented from disconnecting customers over disputed bills.

These suggestions are contained in the Energy (Electricity Reliability, Quality of Supply and Service) Regulations 2024.

This comes amid rising default cases despite the electricity distributor reaching deals with consumers.

Kenyans have been paying up to KSh 13,000 as a reconnection fee when KPLC disconnects power in their homes.

"When a dispute on electricity bills between a licensee and a consumer has been referred to the authority for determination, the consumer shall remain connected until the dispute is determined," EPRA stated.

According to EPRA, solving power bill disputes between consumers and KPLC will take a maximum of 60 days.

What will happen when blackouts occur?

If the new regulations are passed, KPLC will compensate customers after blackouts.

Currently, KPLC compensates Kenyans for injuries or damaged assets but does not offer compensation for power losses, resulting in business losses.

Kenya Power previously explained the correlation between rains and power outages.

Kenya Power provided a graphic explanation using photos depicting heavy rains and strong winds that caused trees to fall on transmission lines.

These trees may break the transmission line, which will lead to blackouts.

How Nandi farmer lost KSh 120k

TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that a farmer in Nandi lost KSh 120,000 after Kenya Power permanently disconnected power at his home.

The farmer revealed he has been paying an average of KSh 1,500 monthly in bills to the electricity distributor without failure for the last seven years and wondered why they had to cut supply at his home.

He said the electricity was connected to his house by a contractor sourced by Kenya Power.

The farmer who keeps pigs at his compound disclosed he was forced to dispose of over 200 kilograms of meat that he had kept in a freezer after it went bad.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Kate Actress Blasts Fan For Claiming She Dumped Ex-Hubby After Acquiring Riches: “Tumia Akili”
Bridesmaid Quits Wedding After Going Through Bride's Phone, Finding Chats Making Fun Of Her
Linturi Rules Out Compensation To Farmers Affected By Floods: "No Such Budgetary Allocation"

KPLC engineers connecting power to a household.

Kenya Power Blocked from Disconnecting Customers Over Disputed Bills in

Kenya Power Apologises to Coast General Hospital After Disconnecting