Page 11 - AfrElec Week 40 2021
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AfrElec HYDROGEN AfrElec
Kenya’s large commercial
electricity usage falls to 20.2%
KENYA KENYA’S year-on-year power consumption However, y/y consumption growth among
growth by large commercial users such as shop- small commercial users rose to 17.1% in August
ping malls and factories fell to 20.2% in August, from 10.8% in July.
marking the fourth consecutive slump in growth Kenya’s large commercial power consumers
since May, according to the Central Bank report. have been shifting to solar power systems to cut
The fall in electricity usage by the large con- down on power bills amid thinning revenues
sumers has already affected Kenya Power’s and rising power prices.
revenues, which has pushed President Uhuru Some of the power consumers such as Africa
Kenyatta to issue a directive requiring the Min- Logistics Properties (ALP), Mombasa Interna-
istry of Energy to reduce power tariffs by 33% to tional Airport and the International Centre of
an average of $0.15 per kilowatt hour from the Insect Physiology and Ecology have recently
current $0.22/kWh. commissioned solar power units on their
The president wants to set the $0.15 per unit properties.
tariff so as to benefit domestic consumers who Commercial and industrial consumers
use more than 100 kWh per month and do not account for the largest share of electricity sales at
enjoy a state subsidy. 52.8%, followed by domestic at 30.8%, accord-
The growth of power consumption by large ing to Kenya Power’s financial report for the
commercial users has slowed down since April, year ended June 2020, while small businesses
which has mainly been attributed to the rising and street lighting account for 15.5% and 0.93%
shift to firms’ cheaper own sources as they seek respectively.
to cut production costs.
Week 40 07•October•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P11
