Kenyans are set to pay slightly higher electricity bills this month after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) introduced new charges on power consumption.
In a notice issued on Sunday, EPRA announced additional costs that will appear in May 2026 electricity bills, including a forex adjustment charge, fuel cost charge and water levy.
Among the new charges is a Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment of 110.33 cents per kilowatt hour, meaning consumers will pay slightly over Sh1 extra for every unit of electricity used.
EPRA said the charge is meant to recover exchange rate losses incurred by electricity producers and suppliers.
The regulator explained that power producers such as KenGen, independent power producers and diesel-powered plants use foreign currency to buy equipment, fuel and service loans, making them vulnerable to fluctuations in the value of the shilling.
According to EPRA, the exchange rate losses in April reached about Sh1.17 billion.
Consumers will also pay a Fuel Energy Cost Charge of Sh3.06 per kilowatt hour. The charge is linked to the cost of running thermal and diesel power plants, especially in areas that depend heavily on fuel-generated electricity.
EPRA noted that fuel prices for diesel plants rose sharply in April, particularly affecting northern counties such as Turkana, Mandera, Garissa, Wajir and Lamu where diesel-powered electricity is common.
Another charge added to the bill is the Water Resource Management Authority levy, which stands at about Sh1.35 per kilowatt hour for electricity generated from large hydro power stations.
The levy applies to hydroelectric power generated from stations under the Seven Forks dams along the Tana River, including areas in Murang’a, Embu, Kitui, Kiambu and Machakos counties.
The money collected goes towards supporting water resource management activities.
Although the charges may appear small individually, they are expected to slightly increase monthly electricity costs for households and businesses already struggling with the high cost of living.
The latest increase comes just days after fuel prices hit record highs, with petrol and diesel prices rising sharply across the country.
Many Kenyans are now worried that the combined increase in fuel and electricity costs could push up transport fares and prices of basic goods in the coming weeks.
