Kenya Power Unveils KSh 50b Backup National Control Centre to Curb Electricity Supply Outage

 

Kenyans could soon get uninterrupted electricity supply across the country as Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) sets up a backup facility. Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Siror speaking at a past event.  KPLC Managing Director Joseph Siror confirmed that the Backup National Control Centre was launched on the Coast at a cost of KSh 50 million. How Kenya Power backup facility will function  The facility is aimed at safeguarding the security of electricity supply, providing an alternative despatch point in case of failure of the main control centre.  "Our grid is expanding rapidly with increased customer numbers and this calls for the deployment of strategic initiatives that are meant to secure and strengthen the quality of power supply. The Backup National Control Centre is one such initiative that we have undertaken," said Siror. "We are also focused on strengthening the network through the refurbishment of the existing infrastructure and the construction of new lines to provide alternative supply points to our customers to minimise power outages," Siror added. What are the benefits of KPLC backup centre? The backup facility gets electricity supply from various power generation sources and dispatches it to various consumers across the country, based on cost and demand.  As a required grid code across the world, it secures the reliability of power supply. The Backup National Control Centre construction was financed by GIZ grants under the Power System Readiness for Integration of Variable Renewable Energies (VRE) project implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. Kenya became the first country in East Africa to launch the backup facility, which is available in South Africa, Algeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Egypt. Is KPLC facing competition? This followed the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) regulations, which were gazetted to allow private companies to supply electricity across Kenya. The Energy (Electricity Market, Bulk Supply, and Open Market) Regulations 2024 will open competition to Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC). EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo said Kenya will enjoy reduced power bills and reduced outages from the new regulations.\

by  Wycliffe Musalia