Kenya Power explains why token units vary for same payment amounts

Rosemary Oduor, General Manager of Commercial Services and Sales, explained on Citizen TV's The Big Conversation Show on Thursday night that the current Tariff structure divides customers into three bands based on average consumption.

Oduor explained that the three bands, Domestic Customer One (DC1), Domestic Customer Two (DC2), and Domestic Customer Three (DC3), categorise consumers with fewer than 30 units, 30 to 100 units, and more than 100 units, respectively.

This means that DC1 consumers who use less than 30 units per month will be charged Ksh.12.24, DC2 at Ksh.16.58, and DC3 at Ksh.20.58.

“The Tariff structure that was approved last year that is in force has domestic customers in three buds; the lower band is the people who consume less than 30 units a month, then your rate is Domestic Customer 1. The current cost per unit in DC1 is Ksh.12.24 before adding VAT and fuel energy and others,” she said.

“If you consume between 30 and 100 units per month, then your rate is Ksh.16.58 units a month. The upper band which is above 100 units the rate is Ksh.20.58 per unit.” 

Ms Oduor went on to say that the categorisation is based on a customer's average consumption over the previous three months, which determines which band they are placed in.

“So if you belong in DC3, of 100 and above units, even your first unit is charged in DC3 rate. So it doesn’t add value for you to buy 30 units, then 70 and another because your charge is based on your average consumption which then determines the band which you operate,” she added.

Consumers who subscribe to last-mile connectivity, on the other hand, pay additional fees and receive fewer units because half of the tokens purchased are used to pay for the connection.

“There is an additional charge that comes to people connected under the last mile still paying for their connection charge which is charged at half the amount. If you paid Ksh.100, then half of the amount would go to paying for the connection which you have been given upfront,” Ms Oduor stated.

Ms Oduor’s remarks followed concerns raised by Kenya Power customers who complained of getting different quantities of tokens purchased for the same amount of money.