Many Kenyans who depend on electricity for daily use have, for a long time, complained about what they see as unfair or confusing prepaid electricity charges.
A common question that keeps coming up is why the same amount of money does not always buy the same number of electricity units. At times, you may feel that electricity is very expensive, while on other occasions, the same amount seems to last longer.
Because of this confusion, many people often accuse power providers of manipulating prices or secretly overcharging customers. Some even believe that electricity companies deliberately reduce units to make more money.
However, recent explanations have shown that power companies are not directly responsible for setting electricity prices.
This issue came into the spotlight after a Kenyan shared his frustration on X (formerly Twitter). In his post, he explained that he bought prepaid electricity tokens twice on the same day but received very different results, which did not make sense to him at first.
According to the user, he first bought electricity worth Ksh 500 for his mother and received only 12.1 units. Later that same day, he purchased tokens worth Ksh 1,000 for himself and received 38.4 units.
Logically, he expected that if Ksh 500 gave 12.1 units, then Ksh 1,000 should give about 24.2 units. Instead, he received far more units, which left him confused and angry.
Seeking clarity, the man reached out to Kenya Power for an explanation. The response he received surprised many Kenyans and helped shed light on why prepaid electricity units can differ from one household to another.
How Prepaid Electricity Units Are Calculated
In its response, Kenya Power explained that the number of units a customer receives is not fixed and depends on several factors. The most important factor is the electricity tariff category that a customer falls under.
Kenya Power clarified that electricity consumers are grouped into three main domestic tariff categories based on how much electricity they use each month. These categories are known as DC-1, DC-2, and DC-3.
Customers in the DC-1 category are low consumers who use between 0 and 30 units of electricity per month. Those in the DC-2 category consume between 30 and 100 units monthly, while DC-3 customers are high consumers who use more than 100 units in a month.
Each of these categories is charged a different price per unit of electricity. For example, customers in DC-1 pay about Ksh 12.14 per unit.
Those in DC-2 are charged around Ksh 16.50 per unit, while DC-3 customers pay the highest rate, about Ksh 18.57 per unit, before adding other charges such as fuel costs and taxes.
Because of these differences, two people buying electricity for the same amount of money can end up receiving very different units. In the case shared online, Kenya Power explained that the mother likely fell under a higher tariff category due to higher monthly consumption.
This meant she paid more per unit, resulting in fewer units for Ksh 500. On the other hand, the man was in a lower tariff category, which allowed him to receive more units for Ksh 1,000.
Does Kenya Power Set Electricity Prices?
Following the explanation, another user raised an important question. They asked how customers are placed into these tariff categories, especially since consumers are not allowed to choose which category they want to belong to.
In response, Kenya Power made it clear that it does not have the authority to set electricity tariffs or decide the pricing structure.
The company explained that electricity prices in Kenya are regulated by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
According to Kenya Power, EPRA is responsible for setting electricity tariffs, while the final cost of electricity depends on several factors.
These include how much power a customer uses, the tariff category they fall under, fuel and foreign exchange costs, and applicable government taxes.
“Electricity tariffs are set by EPRA, not Kenya Power. The cost depends on how much power you use, your tariff category, fuel and forex costs, and applicable taxes.
This is why the same amount of money can buy different units for different customers,” the company explained.
This clarification has helped many Kenyans better understand why prepaid electricity units vary and why the system may sometimes feel unfair.
While the charges may still be frustrating, the explanation shows that consumption levels and government-regulated tariffs play a major role in determining how many units you receive.
Join Gen z Official WhatsApp Channel to share your thoughts and stay updated on time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
