The Energy Petroleum and Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has proposed to cap the maximum number of unplanned power blackouts a customer can experience within a year.
As proposed in the Kenya National Grid Distribution Code under the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI), the regulator is proposing to cap the maximum number of blackouts to 20.
As highlighted in the report, customers are currently experiencing approximately 26 blackouts in a year.
Notably, EPRA is proposing to have the 20 maximum cap apply for the next five years before that figure is reduced to 15.
Meanwhile, there are also proposals to reduce the number of minutes when a consumer can go without power in their homes and businesses.
Usually measured as the System Average Interruption Duration Indicator (SAIDI), EPRA is proposing to reduce the maximum duration from the current 115.73 minutes to 80 minutes.
Equally, EPRA intends to have that number lowered even further to 45 minutes after five years.
"The Authority shall in consultation with the Licensees set the values of SAIFI, SAIDI, CAIDI and ANOFT targets for the licensees annually which shall be used to ensure power system reliability.
"Forced Interruptions as defined in KS. 2236-3:2010 are the only ones included in the calculation of the reliability indicators. Planned interruptions are excluded. The reliability indicators shall be calculated monthly and annually by the Distribution and Retail Supply Licensees and reported to the Authority," read the code in part.
Kenyans have experienced numerous blackouts in the past years owing to scheduled maintenance and system failures of equipment of power distributors such as Kenya Power.
There have also been occurrences of nationwide blackouts that have caused Kenyans and businesses millions in losses.
