KPLC/KENGEN, Some Suggestions To Reduce Utility

This is a cross post from Kaboro (thanks for letting me post). Thought it was  a good read. KPLC are you listening?

Power rationing is back in Kenya. Ten  years later. There have been complaints that Kengen and KPLC have been sleeping on the job. This has some truth to it, as there are some simple measures that can be taken up by the distribution company, KPLC to reduce load in the country as it is. These measures are simple harmonization tricks that don’t cost as much as putting up an electric generation plant. Additionally, it will reduce the cost of power across the country, as it will reach those  who are actually paying for the power.

1. Increase Number of Transformers & Lines feeding power
There has been an exponential increase in the number of houses being constructed in Nairobi, most of which have power lines attached to them. This is especially in the upper-class and middle class neighborhoods which were once full of bungalows but are now expanding upwards with Apartments and Flats. This causes an increase in power utility in an area. Now this poses a problem because the powerlines/transformers have not been increased, causing numerous power blackouts because the transformers have been overloaded. Now, typically, when this happens, KPLC increase the number of Transformers that they have. They have not however, increased their powerlines. This seems like a simple oversight, until you consider that you can lose up to 20% of your power to heat, warming up the countryside. This is because, as you increase the load during transmission, given that the voltage is constant, the current increases. The reason power is transmitted in high voltage is so that the current is as low as possible, preventing the wires from heating up. However, if you increase the load, the wires will heat up, causing a loss as you are losing energy to heat.

Power transmission mast.

This upgrade is a simple way of ensuring efficient use of power.

2. Crack down on electricity theft
Currently, a high percentage of power is stolen in slums etc in Kenya. These culprits use up a lot of electricity that is not paid for. The solution for KPLC is simply to charge all the consumers more instead of cracking down on the culprits which will have the added advantage of reducing our power costs, as well as freeing up electricity. This will allow more people to legally get power, as the cost will have gone down. It is wrong to simply increase the charge as people who honestly meet their obligations are forced to pay for people who choose not to.

3. Change Metering System
This has not gone on as fast as it should. More people should be moved to the new system of metering (digital meters) to ensure that less power is lost, albeit honestly. Most of the old meters do not function as well as they should leading to under billing, most of the time, given that when there is over billing, customers quickly pick up and protest, meaning that the former, not the latter is more prevalent.

With these simple measures, more electricity can be provided to the main power-grid, and hopefully reduce the footprint of the power rationing currently faced.

My Edit:
The fundamental issue is that we’re in a drought. There are various theories to explain this (including my Mum’s which is we sinned against God during the PEV and He’s punishing us 🙂 ), to the fact that we’ve destroyed our catchment areas (I love my Mum, but this sounds more plausible). Unless something changes, it will get worse. Power rationing doesn’t create additional resources, neither does it prevent the famine that’s already hitting parts of the country due to rain shortage.

We do need to address this by kicking settlers out of catchment areas and planting more trees. It’s an environmental issue that’s not going away, and one that’s unique to Kenya ( Tanzania is amazingly green, food production is good).