Kenya Power set to pay consumers for blackouts

Kenya Power

A Kenya Power employee carries out repairs to a transformer along Haile Selassie Road in Mombasa.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Grou

What you need to know:

  • Businesses that incur financial losses due to power blackouts will receive compensation from Kenya Power if proposed regulations by the energy regulator are adopted.

Businesses that incur financial losses due to power blackouts will receive compensation from Kenya Power if proposed regulations by the energy regulator are adopted.

The draft electricity supply regulations published Tuesday by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) seek to compel the power utility to compensate consumers for financial losses, equipment damage, physical injuries and death due to power outages.

Frequent blackouts due to supply shortfalls and an aging infrastructure have forced most businesses and wealthy customers to have stand-by generators.

Currently, Kenya Power offers compensation for injuries and damaged kits, but does not compensate domestic and business customers for financial loss resulting from being left without electricity.

Now, Kenya seeks to adopt the model in most European countries that demand utilities compensate users whose homes and businesses are cut off from power for prolonged periods.

Read more here