Kenyan electricity consumers are set to dig deeper into their pockets after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) published its monthly electricity adjustment charges for July 2026.
Through the four adjustment tariffs, consumers will pay an extra Sh5.18 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on their July bills, on top of the base electricity tariff.
The adjustments include a Fuel Energy Cost Charge of 320 cents per unit, a Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment of 148.41 cents per unit, an Inflation Adjustment of 48 cents per unit, and a Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) levy of 1.57 cents per unit.
“Pursuant to Clause 1 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 fuel energy cost charge of plus 320 Kenya cents per kWh for all meter readings to be taken in July 2026,” EPRA stated in Gazette Notice No. 10597.
According to the Gazette Notice dated July 10, fuel-powered electricity generation continues to exert pressure on consumer tariffs despite the significant contribution of geothermal and renewable energy sources.
The Fuel Energy Cost Charge reflects the cost of diesel-fired electricity generation, particularly in areas that are not connected to the national grid.
By contrast, geothermal power remains the cheapest electricity source, with Olkaria I & IV, Sosian Menengai, and OrPower 22 all attracting a flat steam charge of Sh2.59 per kWh.
Consumers will also pay a Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment of 148.41 cents per kWh, which compensates power producers and distributors for exchange-rate losses incurred while generating and purchasing power.
EPRA’s figures show a combined exchange loss of Sh1.63 billion in June 2026 across KenGen, Kenya Power, and independent power producers (IPPs), as set out in Gazette Notice No. 10598.
In addition, consumers will pay a Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) levy of 1.57 cents per kWh, which funds water conservation and applies to electricity generated by hydropower stations with a capacity of 1MW or more, including Gitaru, Kiambere, and Kindaruma.
In total, Kenya generated and purchased 1.32 billion kWh in June 2026, of which hydropower plants with a capacity of 1MW or more supplied 345.6 million kWh, roughly a quarter of the total.
An Inflation Adjustment of 48 cents per kWh will also apply throughout the second half of 2026, from July through December.
The combined adjustments mean that a consumer using 100 units of electricity in July will pay about Ksh518 in adjustment charges alone, in addition to the normal electricity tariff, taxes, and other statutory charges.
– By Daniel Kamau
