COFEK Wants Kenya Power To Repay Consumers 20% Inflated Electricity Bills, Interest Backdated To 10 Years

• Auditor General Nancy Gathungu told the National Assembly Committee on Energy that Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has been inflating consumer electricity bills
• Gathungu's report showed that up to 20% of electricity bills loaded to consumers do not reflect in KPLC's billing systems
• Consumer Federation Kenya (COFEK) said the move was an indictment that cannot be defended, urging the utility to cooperate and refund the money to consumers

Consumer Federation Kenya (COFEK) has reached out to Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) over an audit report on exaggerated electricity bills, demanding a refund.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu's report to the National Assembly Committee on Energy showed that KPLC inflated consumer power bills by 20% of what they did not use.

High electricity bills and token charges

COFEK secretary general Stephen Mutoro condemned Kenya Power for the action, which has seen several complaints raised by consumers for years.

"Kenya Power should make a commitment to refund consumers of their hard-earned money. We do not expect them to defend this course in the court of law," said Mutoro in response to TUKO.co.ke.

In a press statement released on Monday, August 7, COFEK said KPLC's move to inflate power bills is an indictment that cannot be defended at any cost.

The federation called on Kenya Power to apologise to all consumers and share a recovery plan for the 20% exaggerated bills and interest accrued, at least for the past 10 years.

"The report confirms the many complaints and fears from consumers, raised daily. KPLC often intimidates consumers by unwarranted disconnections, even when bills are disputed.

We expect Kenya Power to make further confessions, unreservedly apologise to electricity consumers and publicise an immediate plan on consumers' recovery of the stated 20%plus interest as backdated to at least 10 years ago," said COFEK.

Electricity consumers move to court

COFEK said it expects total cooperation from the utility firm, urging it not to waste time and resources thinking of defending the matter in a court of law.

Electricity consumers have been staging a fight against the utility firm for increased power charges to no avail.

In March 2023, the Electricity Consumers Association of Kenya (ECSK) filed a petition challenging the implementation of new Kenya Power tariffs.

However, the firm got a leeway from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to increase the charges.