KPLC to roll out metering of over 70,000 transformers at Sh 70,000 per meter countrywide

Kenya Power transformers. PHOTO | NMG

 

Kenya Power now wants shareholders to fund the Multi-Billion metering initiative of all its transformers to track electricity system loss through theft and transmission that costs the company over Sh18 billion per year.


KPLC said it had begun engaging its shareholders to finance the initiative beginning from Nairobi where power theft is rampant and specific areas have been mapped before rolling the project across the country.


Each meter is likely to cost about Sh70,000 given the estimate that Nairobi’s 10,000 transformers will be metered at approximately Sh700 million.



Countrywide, the company has over 70,000 transformers.


Kenya Power Managing Director Bernard Ngugi said the move will decrease and later wiping out electricity theft through illegal connections as it will be possible to trace the source of the power being illegally consumed.


“We are in talks with financiers to meter all transformers to address the losses whereby we will be comparing the power leaving each transformer with the meter readings from all the customers that draw electricity from a particular transformer then we can tell exactly where we are losing the power, " he said.


When all transformers are metered, we can reduce the commercial loss to zero,” Mr Ngugi added.