The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has introduced three new charges on electricity bills for April 2026, affecting households and businesses across Kenya.
The changes were announced in a Gazette Notice dated April 24 and are tied to foreign exchange fluctuations, water resource levies, and fuel costs used in power generation.
Consumers will see a Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment of 123.41 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), reflecting exchange gains and losses incurred by Kenya Electricity Generating Company, Kenya Power, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs). These adjustments stem from over Ksh1.3 billion recorded in March 2026 across 1.3 billion units of electricity generated.
A Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) levy of 1.54 cents per kWh has also been applied. This charge is linked to hydropower generation from key stations such as Gitaru, Kiambere, and Turkwel, which collectively supplied over 334 million units in March.
The largest increase comes from the Fuel Energy Cost Charge (FECC), adding 347 cents per kWh. This reflects the cost of fuel used by power plants running on diesel, gas, and geothermal steam.
The impact will be most severe in off-grid regions reliant on diesel generation, where fuel prices are significantly higher. Areas like Turkana, Lamu, and parts of northern Kenya face elevated costs due to expensive fuel transport.
In contrast, regions connected to geothermal sources such as Olkaria, including Nairobi and Nakuru, will experience relatively lower increases. Overall, the fuel charge carries the greatest weight, followed by forex adjustments and the smaller water levy.