KPLC uses common sense for once

[RV Pundit]

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http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Kenya-Power-cuts-cost-of-connecting-homes/-/539546/2494932/-/9ms750z/-/index.html

[Olekoima]

These are good news.

[Mintos]

So, what they are saying is that their current design was the one causing the costs of connection to be high? How about the time it takes to connect one to the grid? There are people who live even 200m or less from a transformer, have paid for the connection but have not been connected for a whole year! Some have been told to ongeza chapaa! KP wawache laziness na excuses mingi.

[Olekoima]

So, what they are saying is that their current design was the one causing the costs of connection to be high? How about the time it takes to connect one to the grid? There are people who live even 200m or less from a transformer, have paid for the connection but have not been connected for a whole year! Some have been told to ongeza chapaa! KP wawache laziness na excuses mingi.

Yes sadly, my father is a victim of this. One wonders why.Nkt!

[RV Pundit]

Monoply. They cannot think because there is no competion to force them to do so. They cannot act..for the same reason. UhuRuto if they are interested in solving inefficiency from KPLC...should demand the company be split into 3...shares sold..to strategic investors...and have the 3 companies competing. The gov should acquire main networks from KPLC to KENTRACO.

So, what they are saying is that their current design was the one causing the costs of connection to be high? How about the time it takes to connect one to the grid? There are people who live even 200m or less from a transformer, have paid for the connection but have not been connected for a whole year! Some have been told to ongeza chapaa! KP wawache laziness na excuses mingi.

[Mintos]

it will be a hard task to split KP and allow others companies to distribute elec. I remeber there was to be a compe to telcom on landlines and that was killed mara that that

[Omollo]

Under ground cabling; Decentralization of KPLC and the end to the monopoly is the way to go. Overhead cables should remain only for long distance high tension transport of power.

Dr. Chumo should up his management style. Call HQ now and ask them for the telephone number of your area manager. You will be given a name and a number of somebody who left the station years ago. The area managers are a law unto themselves and have replaced the former DCs and PCs.

The existing grid should no longer be owned by KPLC but must be transferred in its entirety to a state entity which would then collect rent from power companies using it. KENGEN could apply to sell power to consumers directly through a subsidiary. When the ownership of the current HEP stations constructed with national funds is settled and they are inevitably transferred to the local counties (upon the GoK recovering its investment costs) the new owners - Counties - should also be allowed to sell power to consumers directly. Let KPL sell the power it owns. That way if they insist on fuel costs and set an arbitrary figure, they can always transfer to their customers.

Hopefully a stock market will exist where consumers can compare prices and change suppliers at will.

[gout]

looks like this was a PR gimmick to cover up on their 88% increase in net profits on the backs of kenyans ...6.4 billions..

[RV Pundit]

I think the splitting can be done. It has been done already but on functional basis. KPLC was split into Kengen and KPLC. And then REA was created to deal with rural electricity. Then now we have GDC and KENTRACO. What is needed is competition within KPLC (distribution+customer services+reliability). Kengen is facing sufficient competition from IPP (indendepent power producers). KP is running a monopoly.

Another option is to empower REA who actually own most of rural network to provide KPLC services.

The regulator (ERC) and monopolist commission but treasury can do this if they get serious.

There is no reason why we have 2.5M HH connected in population with 12M household. That is not even 30%. Most west african countries are doing 50%.

[Omollo]

The split that has occurred has either not gone deep enough or remains ineffectual. KPLC disconnected my old aunt and took away the service cable that she paid for. That denies her the opportunity to seek services from another provider.

KPLC is still in charge of Rural Electrification in DEED.  It's still their personnel who undertake surveys and fix the pricing. They use this position to extract bribes from peasants and deny who they will (mostly those who do not pay the "speeding up the process" bribe) and favor those who pay them. You never see anybody else.

The process of surveying homes or handling applications should be removed from a company that itself provides services. REA should float a tender (excluding KPLC) requesting qualified companies to bid for such services nationally, regionally or per county. It can approve the applications and collect the deductible.

REA or KENTRACO should then tender for firms to extend the network to approved new users. This is currently left to KPLC which collects bribes from contractors. There was recently a hullabaloo in Kisumu when the KPLC guy in charge unilaterally canceled all contracts with the contractors. The case is in court. The real motive was the bribe money. Here you can see KPLC - a private company still calling the shots.

 

[RV Pundit]

Many good ideas. I hope Chirchir the CS of energy can read some of this ideas.They seem committed to ensure more connections and low prices.

What is not in doubt is  our electricity rate and cost is atrocious just like our transport costs....

Many yrs of corruption, stupidity and undernourishment in infrastructure.

The split that has occurred has either not gone deep enough or remains ineffectual. KPLC disconnected my old aunt and took away the service cable that she paid for. That denies her the opportunity to seek services from another provider.

KPLC is still in charge of Rural Electrification in DEED.  It's still their personnel who undertake surveys and fix the pricing. They use this position to extract bribes from peasants and deny who they will (mostly those who do not pay the "speeding up the process" bribe) and favor those who pay them. You never see anybody else.

The process of surveying homes or handling applications should be removed from a company that itself provides services. REA should float a tender (excluding KPLC) requesting qualified companies to bid for such services nationally, regionally or per county. It can approve the applications and collect the deductible.

REA or KENTRACO should then tender for firms to extend the network to approved new users. This is currently left to KPLC which collects bribes from contractors. There was recently a hullabaloo in Kisumu when the KPLC guy in charge unilaterally canceled all contracts with the contractors. The case is in court. The real motive was the bribe money. Here you can see KPLC - a private company still calling the shots.

 

[Mr Mansfield.]

Buy KPLC shares

Without Prejudice.