Interesting Reads

Kenya Power Says The More You Consume Electricity, The Higher The Cost Per Unit

Why Your KES 500 Now Buys You Fewer Electricity Units: A Look Into Kenya Power's Tariff Categories

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Insights At a Glance:

  • Kenya Power has three main tariff bands based on your monthly electricity usage:
    Below 30 units (KES 12.23/unit), 30–100 units (KES 16.45/unit), and 101+ units (KES 19.02/unit).
  • Your tariff is calculated based on your 3-month average, not just one month’s usage.
  • The more you consume, the higher the rate per unit.

Ever paid for electricity only to stare at your token message in disbelief because the units seem to have taken a hit? You’re not alone. Many Kenyans have been wondering why they’re getting fewer units for the same amount of money, and Kenya Power has finally addressed this in an attempt to break down the mystery.

Turns out, it all boils down to what tariff category you fall under. And no, it’s not about whether you live in a mansion or a bedsitter. It’s about how many units of electricity you consume each month, and the math behind it is a little… interesting.

Let’s unpack this.

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The Three Main Domestic Tariff Categories Explained

Kenya Power has grouped domestic electricity consumers into three major tariff bands based on their monthly electricity usage and your rate per unit depends on which band you’re in. Here’s what that looks like:

  1. Domestic 1 (Lifeline Customers): If you use below 30 units per month, you get a special subsidized rate of KES 12.23 per unit (excluding taxes and levies). This is the lowest band, tailored for households with minimal consumption. Think single-room setups with maybe a bulb, a TV, and a phone charger. It sounds like a sweet deal until you realize how hard it actually is to stay under 30 units a month in 2025.
  2. Domestic 2 (Mid-tier Customers): Use between 30 and 100 units a month and you’re bumped up to a rate of KES 16.45 per unit. This is where most average households fall especially families with a fridge, a few lights, and maybe a microwave or water heater. Basically, if you’re living in a one- or two-bedroom apartment and cook at home, welcome to Domestic 2 where the units begin thinning faster.
  3. Domestic 3 (Heavy Consumers): If your household consistently uses more than 100 units per month (up to 15,000 units), you’re in this category, charged at KES 19.02 per unit. This includes households with heavy appliances, businesses running from home, or larger family setups. So, the more you use, the more expensive it gets, and that’s not including VAT, fuel cost charges, and other levies.

Why Does It Get More Expensive the More You Use?

Now this is where the real debate begins.

Conventional logic is that bulk buying should offer better value. Think wholesale pricing. The more you buy, the less it should cost per unit. Right?

But with Kenya Power’s model, it’s the opposite. The more electricity you use, the higher your unit cost becomes. The reasoning behind this is to support affordability for low-income households (those using under 30 units), by essentially subsidizing their cost using the higher payments made by heavy users. This is a form of cross-subsidy where higher consumption brackets help offset the cost for lifeline customers. Sounds noble and something the hustler president would pull, but in practice, it’s complicated.

While Kenya Power’s explanation was detailed and well-meaning, it’s far from impressive. This feels more like a penalty than a policy. It doesn’t sit right that using more electricity, often a sign of progress (like investing in a fridge, a washing machine, or even working from home), ends up being punished financially. There’s also frustration over how the category is determined. Kenya Power uses your average monthly consumption over three months to place you into a tariff band. So, even if you drastically reduce your usage for one month, you might still be stuck paying higher rates due to previous higher consumption.

To make matters worse, tenants moving into new houses can inherit the previous tenant’s consumption average, meaning you can walk into a new space and immediately find yourself in Domestic 3, even if you’re using minimal power. And then there’s the tricky reality where staying under 30 units a month is nearly impossible for most households. Even with basic appliances, those units add up fast. So while the “lifeline” rate sounds great in theory, it’s an unreachable goal.

This tariff model feels like it’s discouraging growth and development. Why penalize households for trying to improve their living standards? Why does electricity, a basic utility, become more expensive the more you need it? And with the cost of living already punching holes in every budget, Kenya Power’s pricing model needs a rethink that aligns more with economic realities and energy equity.

Perhaps a flat-rate model would do. Or progressive pricing with better transparency. Otherwise, more will simply move to solar and other alternatives in protest.


Kenya Power’s attempt to educate customers about the different tariff categories is appreciated. It brings transparency and gives people a chance to understand why their tokens are shrinking. But it also opens up bigger questions about fairness, affordability, and the kind of energy future we want as a country.

For now, if you’re keen to save on your power bill, keep an eye on your monthly usage and if possible, stay under that 30-unit threshold. But let’s be honest, that’s a tall order.

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Hillary Keverenge

Making tech news helpful, and sometimes a little heated.

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