KPLC: Why you get fewer electricity units with the same amount of money

Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has revealed that the tariff under which you’re categorized might be the reason for the disparity in cost. 

The electricity distributor revealed that they group customers into different tariffs based on the amount of electricity they consume monthly, in summation, how your consumption pattern looks like every month.

A tariff is the price, rates, costs and other charges that include adjustments, formulae and other terms and conditions for the supply of electrical energy to consumers (you). 

KPLC mentioned that the different tariffs under which consumers are grouped include Lifeline consumers who are codenamed DCL-1, domestic II who are codenamed DC2-O and Domestic III consumers who are codenamed DC3-O.

Let’s break down the classification per domestic tariff:

DCL-1 customers, also known as Lifeline consumers, are those who use 30 or less units per billing period (one month) and pay Kshs. 12.33 per unit. 

According to Kenya Power, this tariff is designed for households or consumers with minimal electrical power consumption.

For you to be categorized under DC2-O, your unit consumption must be more than 30 units per billing period but below 100 units and it will cost Ksh.16.45 per unit.

And if your consumption falls anywhere between 101 to 15,000 units, you’re in the DC3-O category and Kenya Power charges you Ksh. 19.08 per unit.

All the unit charges, for both prepaid and postpaid customers are charged per billing period and they are exclusive of taxes and levies.

To group customers, calculations are done over three consecutive billing periods and not just your current billing period. 

“Your tariff category is calculated based on your average consumption over three consecutive months, not just your current month’s usage,”stated KPLC.