Nairobi: The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has introduced three comprehensive draft regulations to enhance safety, reliability, and consumer protection within Kenya's energy sector. These proposals, currently undergoing public participation, aim to address critical aspects of energy management, from incident reporting to service quality and licensing protocols.
According to Kenya News Agency, EPRA Director in Charge of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Eng. Joseph Okech, emphasized that the Electricity Incident and Accident Reporting regulation targets mitigating risks associated with electrical mishaps. EPRA has proposed a structured framework for timely reporting and management of electrical incidents to ensure safety as the government moves to extend power connectivity across the country. The regulations make it mandatory for Kenyans and organisations to report any electrical incidents or accidents within 48 hours. Affected individuals or organisations are required to conduct preliminary investigations to establish the cause of the accident and furnish EPRA with a detailed report.
EPRA plans to develop and maintain an online system to facilitate the reporting process for organisations and the public. Additionally, a 24-hour incident hotline will be established to ensure timely reporting and response. Eng. Okech highlighted that electricity reliability, quality of supply, and service regulations are also undergoing public participation, with the target of elevating the standards of electricity supply and service. The regulations introduce measures to ensure consistent and reliable energy delivery across the country, establishing benchmarks for reliability, quality of supply, and service while holding responsible organisations accountable for maintaining these standards. Other proposals include compensation for consumers in cases of property damage or bodily injury due to supply failures or poor-quality service.
The third regulation on Electric Power Undertaking Licensing seeks to streamline the licensing process and enforce compliance. The regulations target all individuals or entities engaged in the exportation, importation, generation, transmission, distribution, or retail supply of electrical energy, who must obtain the appropriate licenses from EPRA. Eng. Okech urged stakeholders and the public to review the draft regulations, available on EPRA's official website, and submit their comments to ensure comprehensive and effective safety standards are implemented.