Kenya Power has begun rolling out a new meter-reading technology aimed at ending manual errors and speeding up monthly billing for millions of postpaid customers.
The system, known as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), allows meter readers to simply scan a meter’s display instead of typing in the numbers. The scanned image is converted into accurate digital readings, significantly reducing mistakes that have long been linked to human error.
Richard Wida, Kenya Power’s Commercial Cycle Manager, said the company has been working to modernize its billing systems to make them more precise and customer-friendly.
“Technology is a major driver of our business. With the OCR system, the meter reader will just scan the meter and the system will pick the readings automatically. This will save time and eliminate human error that can occur when someone types the readings manually,” he said.
The new system is now being rolled out across all eight Kenya Power regions after a six-month pilot in Nairobi that began in March 2025. The company targets 1.8 million postpaid meters all of which currently require manual reading every month.
Beyond simplifying fieldwork, Kenya Power says the technology will help reduce billing disputes that arise from inaccurate readings.
“The OCR technology is a major milestone in Kenya Power’s digital transformation journey. It will complement other systems we have deployed to strengthen service delivery and improve customer experience,” Wida added.
Kenya Power is also banking on other digital tools to improve customer interaction. Its Mypower app and the USSD code *977# allow customers to access services and even submit their own meter readings for accurate billing.
Wida noted that the company is looking ahead to a time when OCR will be available to customers directly through self-reading, allowing them to scan their own meters with minimal risk of error.
The utility has additionally rolled out smart meters for large power users, SMEs, and selected households. These devices support two-way communication, enabling Kenya Power to read meters remotely and even disconnect or reconnect supply without physical visits.
