Kenyan households are set to pay more for electricity this month after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) introduced additional charges on power consumption for May 2026.
In a latest notice, EPRA announced a Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment of 110.33 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), meaning consumers will pay slightly above KSh1 extra for every unit consumed.
The regulator also introduced a Fuel Energy Cost Charge of KSh3.06 per kWh, adding further pressure on electricity costs for homes and businesses already dealing with high living expenses.
“Pursuant to Clause 1 of Part III of the Schedule of Tariffs, 2023, notice is given that all prices for electrical energy specified in Part II of the said schedule will be liable to a Fuel Energy Cost Charge of plus 306 Kenya cents per kWh for all meter readings to be taken in May 2026,” EPRA stated.
In addition, consumers will also pay a Water Resource Management Authority levy linked to electricity generated from large hydro power stations under the Seven Forks scheme along the Tana River.
The levy applies to hydro-generated electricity from stations located in counties such as Embu, Machakos, Murang’a, Kiambu and Kitui.
According to EPRA, the forex adjustment is meant to recover exchange rate losses incurred by electricity producers and suppliers servicing dollar-denominated loans and power purchase agreements.
The regulator said the losses, recorded in April 2026, amounted to KSh1.17 billion and affected firms including KenGen, Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and the EPIC diesel plant.
The adjustment was calculated against total electricity generated and purchased in April, which stood at 1.275 billion kilowatt hours.
Meanwhile, the fuel charge has been linked to rising diesel costs used in thermal power generation, particularly in off-grid and northern parts of the country.
EPRA noted that diesel prices in Habaswein rose sharply in April to KSh306.73 per kilogram, an increase of KSh111.78 from March. The increase affected regions such as Turkana, Mandera, Garissa, Wajir and Lamu, where thermal power generation remains significant.
The water levy, set at KSh0.5 per kilowatt hour, will only apply to electricity generated from large hydro stations such as Gitaru and Masinga. EPRA said hydro power generation in April stood at 287.2 million kWh.
The latest adjustments mean consumers will now pay additional forex, fuel and water-related charges on top of the normal electricity tariff, pushing May power bills slightly higher.
The increase comes just days after the latest fuel prices took effect, with petrol and diesel prices remaining elevated across the country.
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