EPRA adds Captive Power data to official energy reports

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has begun integrating captive power generation data into the official energy statistics reports.

EPRA Director General, Daniel Kiptoo has said this will ensure a more complete picture of national energy production and consumption, enabling better planning and decision-making.

Captive power plants otherwise referred to as Commercial and Industrial (C&I) power plants are those installed at a customer’s premises and are mainly solar rooftop or small hydropower installations in tea farms in Kenya’s case.

This would also include sugar processing companies installing their own generation based on bagasse.

“C&I energy consumers continue to play a pivotal role in Kenya’s socio-economic development. As key drivers of industrial activity, manufacturing, and service delivery, their energy demands power our national growth, generate employment, and influence the trajectory of long-term development,” said Kiptoo.

He made the remarks during the Electricity Sector Association of Kenya (ESAK), as they held their second edition of C&I conference and exhibition in Nairobi

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Kiptoo said EPRA’s Biannual Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report for the first half of the 2024/2025 financial year indicated that the industrial sector accounted for 2,807.10 GWh of electricity consumption, representing 51.18 per cent of the national total.

“This impressive share highlights the central role that C&I consumers play in shaping electricity demand and the need for responsive and supportive policy and regulatory frameworks to unlock the sector’s full potential,” he explained.

Beyond efficient grid usage, he noted that C&I players have taken strides in energy autonomy through captive power generation.

As of December 2024, he said EPRA estimates that Kenya had 574.6 MW in captive capacity—primarily from solar PV and biomass—accounting for 15.04 per cent of the country’s total installed electricity capacity.

“It is encouraging to see that this capacity is largely from renewable sources, a clear indication of the sector’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and enhancing long-term energy security,” he said.

Kiptoo said that in June last year, EPRA gazetted the Energy (Net-Metering) Regulations, a milestone in the renewable energy journey.

According to Kiptoo, these regulations allow eligible consumers, particularly those generating power from renewable sources, to feed excess electricity back into the national grid.

The framework also allows for net-metered systems of up to 1 MW, capped at the consumer’s highest recorded load in the previous 12 months, with the DG saying this move empowers businesses to become active participants in energy generation while improving grid reliability and supporting sustainability goals.

To further promote efficiency and cost savings, he said EPRA is championing the use of Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs.

“The tariffs encourage electricity consumption during off peak hours, thereby easing pressure on the grid during peak times and allowing businesses to significantly reduce their electricity bills,” he said.

And explained: “Between June and December 2024, C&I consumers benefiting from TOU tariffs collectively saved an impressive Sh688.7 million, a clear demonstration of the policy’s value,” he stated.

He noted that C&I consumers are instrumental in Kenya’s vision for regional electricity integration through the East Africa Power Pool (EAPP), adding that their demand, investment, and innovation in scalable infrastructure directly support cross-border electricity trade, supply reliability, and cost reductions across the region.

“Energy efficiency remains one of the most accessible and impactful opportunities for this sector. It reduces costs, enhances competitiveness, and contributes meaningfully to our environmental objectives,” he noted.

In February, EPRA gazetted the Energy (Energy Management) Regulations 2025 which aim at promoting energy management in commercial, industrial and institutional facilities.

Complementing these efforts, Kiptoo said, is the upcoming National Energy Policy 2025– 2034, which sets forth a bold agenda for the sector.

“It places a strong emphasis on sustainability, energy efficiency, and the active participation of the private sector. We urge all stakeholders, especially those in the C&I space, to contribute to its development to ensure that it reflects our shared priorities and practical realities on the ground,” Kiptoo explained.

ESAK CEO, George Aluru said C&I allows consumers to take charge of their electricity needs in innovative ways that only involve the consumer paying their regular bill, at a lower cost.

“With regulations such as NetMeeting, the conversation now shifts from customer’s own power source to customers supporting the grid. Others such as electricity markets, bulk supply and open access open new frontiers for the electricity market which will change how we look at electricity supply and benefit the entire market,” said Aluru.