Epra proposes licenses to allow private firms in the electricity distribution market

Energy and Petroleum Regulatory authority (EPRA) has proposed a license that will allow private firms to import electricity for sale to consumers.

Under the energy electric power undertaking licensing regulations, 2024 draft, Epra wishes to open an electricity distribution sector that will bring about competition with Kenya power as a result boost service delivery for Kenyans.

“The authority may on receipt of an application, grant the applicant any of the following categories of license; electricity export and import license,, which shall entitle the holder to export or import electrical energy to or from another country,” the regulation stated

The license to import or export electricity is one of the five that the government is offering interested party’s into the electricity and distribution space. Others include licenses to build, maintain and operate systems meant to generate electricity, building approval, operate and maintain power transmission infrastructure and retail supply to sell, bill and collect revenue.

This regulations aim at aim at putting an end to the monopoly that Kenya power has always had as the sole electricity distributor in the country.

Recently the power generating firm has been losing its customers due to the frequent black out  and power outages countrywide, which lead to most of the customers opting for other electricity sources like solar systems.