Smart meters from Kenya Power target 55,000 SMEs across the country

Kenya Power Managing Director Bernard Ngugi{R}  listens as a senior official from the Company explains how the smart meter works.The Project funded by the World Bank and being implemented by the Kenya Power target 55,000 SMEs across the country-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

 By Dickson Odhiambo

January 20, 2021

Smart meters from Kenya Power target 55,000 SMEs across the country

About 55,000 Small and Medium Enterprises across the country are set to benefit from a World Bank Funded Project to Kenya Power’s smart Meters.

The Managing Director of Kenya Power and the Chief Executive Officer Bernard Ngugi said the project which is set to cost an estimated shs 1.25 billion is part of the Kenya Electricity Modernization project and is slated to be completed by June 30 this year.

Addressing the press during the launch in Kisumu today, the Managing Director said the smart meters are of an advanced metering infrastructure that facilitates two-way communication between the company and the Customers.

He says already 3,000 Small and Medium Enterprises have benefited from the program, adding that the rest will benefit from it by June 30 this year when the target of 55,000 SMEs will be connected to the smart meter system.

Ngugi says the new platform gives customers access to real time information on their consumption patterns and billing thus allowing them to assess their energy usage through an online customer portal.

“In case of any outage, the smart meters are able to communicate directly with the company’s National Contact Center which facilitates immediate resolution and enhances efficiency as the Kenya Power teams are alerted promptly. Additionally, the smart meter also sends a notification to the customer Via SMS,” he says.

He adds that the combined benefits of error-free data, prompt network problem identification and audit of energy consumption will go a long way in enhancing service delivery to the Kenya Power Customers in the SMEs sector.

Ngugi further says as the project covers 20percent of the company’s SMEs customers, the company projects to have installed the smart meters for all SMEs by the end of the 2023/2024 financial year.

“We believe that the advanced metering technology will further enhance customer satisfaction based on the visibility and prompt detection of power usage and also reduce technical losses which are key to ensuring reliable and quality supply of power,” Ngugi adds.

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