The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has introduced three supplementary charges to electricity bills for April 2026, a move set to impact millions of consumers across the country. According to a Gazette Notice issued on April 24, the regulator attributed the adjustments to shifting foreign exchange rates, water resource levies, and the rising costs of fuel utilized in power generation.
The notice specifies that all electrical energy prices will now include a Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment of 123.41 cents per kWh for all meter readings taken throughout the month.
“PURSUANT to Clause 2 of Part III of the Schedule of Tariffs, 2023, notice is given that all prices for Electrical Energy specified in Part II of the said Schedule will be liable to a Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment of Plus 123.41 Cents per kWh for all meter readings taken in April, 2026,” stated the notice.
EPRA confirmed that these updates, which also include a Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) levy and a Fuel Energy Cost Charge (FLCC), will appear on all bills processed in April. These pass-through costs reflect the financial realities of March 2026, during which the energy sector recorded foreign exchange losses totaling approximately Sh1.34 billion.
The WRMA levy, set at 1.54 cents per kWh, specifically accounts for energy sourced from hydropower stations with a capacity of one megawatt or higher. While favorable weather recently boosted hydropower output from major plants like Kiambere and Turkwel, the combined effect of these new statutory charges ensures that overall electricity costs remain high for both households and industrial users.
The foreign exchange adjustment alone adds 123.41 cents per kilowatt-hour to electricity bills. This figure stems from the cumulative exchange gains and losses recorded by KenGen, Kenya Power, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which totaled over Sh1.3 billion in March 2026.
According to the latest data, IPPs accounted for the largest share of these costs at Sh874.78 million. Kenya Power posted Sh453.2 million, while KenGen recorded a comparatively smaller gain of Sh14.26 million. These calculations are based on the 1.3 billion units of electricity generated during the month of March.
The WRMA levy introduces an additional 1.54 cents per kilowatt-hour. This specific charge applies to electricity purchased from 12 major hydropower plants across the country with a capacity of at least one megawatt. These stations, including Gitaru, Kiambere, Turkwel, and Sondu Miriu, collectively supplied 334.69 million units in March 2026.
However, the most substantial increase comes from the Fuel Energy Cost Charge (FECC), which adds 347 cents per kilowatt-hour to consumer bills. This charge reflects the actual prices paid for the diesel, gas, and geothermal steam required to stabilize the national grid.
“All prices for electrical energy specified in the Schedule of Tariffs will be liable to a Fuel Energy Cost Charge of Plus 347 Kenya cents per kWh for all meter readings taken in April 2026,” confirmed EPRA Acting Director-General Dr. Eng. Joseph Oketch in the gazette notice.
Dr. Oketch, who recently took over the leadership role at the authority following a government-wide review of the petroleum sector, maintained that these adjustments are necessary pass-through costs to keep the energy sector sustainable. For millions of Kenyans, these combined statutory additions represent a significant climb in the monthly cost of living.
Consumers in remote, off-grid areas are set to feel the sharpest pinch, as these regions depend almost entirely on diesel-powered stations. In these territories, fuel costs significantly outpace those in grid-connected towns supplied by geothermal or hydropower sources.
Turkana County leads the list of expensive power zones with a diesel fuel price of 255.48 per kilogram, followed closely by Lamu County at 251.58 and Homa Bay at 238.24. Other high-cost locations include Samburu, Mandera, Takaba, and Wajir. Residents in these areas rely on remote diesel plants where the logistical expense of trucking in fuel drives electricity generation costs well above the national average.
On the lower end of the cost spectrum, areas connected to geothermal plants benefit from dramatically cheaper steam charges, recorded at just 2.59 per kilogram. This disparity effectively shields Nairobi, Nakuru, and other central-grid towns from the harshest fuel-related surcharges.
The three charges combined represent a notable increase in what consumers will pay per unit in April. The 347-cent fuel charge carries the heaviest weight, followed by the 123.41-cent forex adjustment and the relatively modest 1.54-cent water levy.
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