Kenyans will pay record-high electricity bills for the period between January 15 and February 15 after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) adjusted electricity tariffs, charges, prices and rates.
The changes were gazetted on Friday, January 2021.
EPRA revised the foreign exchange fluctuation charge to Ksh 1.31 (131.66 cents), the highest ever since 2018.
In 2018, the fluctuation charge was at Ksh 1.21 but dropped in between the years and at December 2020, it was at 70 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
"Notice is given that all prices for electrical energy will be liable to a foreign exchange fluctuation adjustment of plus 131.66 cents (1.31 Ksh) per kWh for all meter readings taken in January 2021," EPRA said.
It also increased fuel charge by Ksh 2.58 and water resource levy by 2.44 cents per kWh.
The foreign exchange levy rose owing to the weakening shilling.
The new charge will protect energy sector players from repercussions associated with the drop as Kenya repays loans using the dollar.
The shilling currently trades at Ksh 110 for a dollar. The drop was linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and demand for hard currencies by importers resuming business after Covid-19 containment measures were eased in July 2020.
Fuel prices also rose in Kenya on January 14. EPRA announced that the prices of Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene will increase significantly.
"Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene increase by Ksh 0.17 per litre, Ksh 4.57 per litre and Ksh 3.56 per litre respectively," read part of the press release.
The new fuel prices in Nairobi are as follows: Super Petrol Ksh 106.99, Diesel Ksh 96.40, Kerosene Ksh 87.12.
In December 2020, fuel prices retailed at Ksh 106.82 for Super Petrol, Ksh 91.82 for Diesel and Ksh 83.56 for Kerosene in Nairobi.
