Water Company to Refund Ksh20 Million to Customers

Handwashing at a tap
Handwashing at a tap
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A water supply company in Laikipia County has been ordered to refund its customers for overcharging them for a period of eight months.

The Nyahururu Water and Sewerage Company (Nyahuwasco) was directed to pay back over Ksh20 Million to its customers for imposing tariffs before they were gazetted.

In addition to the water charges, the Water Services Regulatory Board noted that the company had also overcharged the residents for sewerage services.

 

Water Vendors wait for their turn to fetch water at Kitengela on July 21, 2018.
Water Vendors wait for their turn to fetch water at Kitengela on July 21, 2018.
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“The water tariff was gazetted vide Kenya Gazette No 2317 of March 2020 and the utility misapplied the approved tariff under different consumption block.

"For instance, under the domestic category, a consumption of 51 units would be charged at Sh105 per unit based, instead of graduating the units from the lowest consumption block. This leads to the overbilling of customers which may be huge depending on the units consumed and customer’s category,” read a report quoted by The Standard.

The board further directed that the billing software be adjusted to reflect the accurate bills for the clients.

Earlier in October, Kenya Power disconnected water firms from the electrical grid affecting the flow to thousands of residents in the Nairobi Metropolitan area.

The Oloolaiser Water and Sewerage Company which is situated in Ongata Rongai had the power supply to its main pumping stations cut off over non-payment of bills to the utility company.

The water firm serves an estimated 250,000 people residing in Ongata Rongai, Kiserian, Matasia and Ngong areas.

Nairobi residents queuing for water.
Nairobi residents queuing for water.
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