KPLC Bill Calculator
Kenya Power tariffs 2026 · Lifeline / Ordinary / High Consumption · Prepaid & Postpaid 🇰🇪
FCC and FERFA change monthly. Check the back of your latest KPLC SMS or kplc.co.ke for current rates.
How your Kenya Power bill is built in 2026
A KPLC bill is never just "units times a rate." It stacks several charges: (units × your band tariff) + Fuel Cost Charge + forex adjustment (FERFA) + EPRA levy + REP levy + WARMA levy + 16% VAT, plus a KES 150 fixed charge if you are on postpaid. This KPLC bill calculator applies all of them, so the total matches what you actually pay, whether you buy prepaid tokens or get a monthly postpaid bill.
2026 domestic tariff bands
Your energy rate depends on your average monthly consumption, reviewed every 12 months:
| Band | Average use | Energy rate |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Lifeline | up to 30 kWh/month | KES 12.23/kWh |
| Domestic Ordinary | 31 to 100 kWh/month | KES 16.45/kWh |
| Domestic High Consumption | over 100 kWh/month | KES 19.08/kWh |
Did electricity prices go up in 2026?
Not yet. EPRA proposed a 14% to 31% tariff increase for the 2026/2027 financial year, which would have pushed lifeline to about KES 14 and ordinary to about KES 21.68 per unit. The government withdrew and shelved that review in June 2026, so the rates above still apply. Only the monthly fuel and forex pass-through charges keep moving.
The pass-through charges and VAT
- Fuel Cost Charge (FCC): covers the cost of fuel used to generate power, KES 3.20/kWh for July 2026 readings. It rises and falls with global fuel prices.
- FERFA (forex adjustment): covers shilling weakness against the dollar, KES 1.4841/kWh for July 2026 readings, nearly double the June figure after large sector forex losses.
- EPRA levy (KES 0.03/kWh), REP levy (5% of the energy charge, funds rural electrification) and the small WARMA levy for water catchment areas.
- VAT at 16% is then applied. Across a typical bill, taxes and pass-through charges are roughly 40 to 50% of what you pay, which is why your KES 1,000 of tokens buys fewer units than the headline rate suggests.
Because FCC and FERFA change every month, you can edit those two fields with the figures from your latest KPLC token SMS for an exact match.
Worked example: 100 units on the Ordinary tariff
At June 2026 charges, 100 kWh of prepaid electricity on the Ordinary band works out at roughly: energy KES 1,645 + FCC 314 + FERFA 72 + levies ~87 = KES 2,118, plus 16% VAT (~339) = about KES 2,457, an all-in cost of about KES 24.6 per unit. Enter your own numbers above for the exact figure.
Prepaid tokens vs postpaid
The per-unit cost is the same, but postpaid customers pay an extra KES 150 fixed charge every month. For a low-use household, prepaid tokens are cheaper because you skip that fixed charge. After every token purchase, KPLC texts you the units credited, divide the pre-VAT value by the units to see which band you are on.
How to cut your electricity bill
- Switch appliances off at the wall, not standby, which can quietly cost 5 to 10% of a bill.
- Replace bulbs with LEDs, cutting lighting cost by up to 80%.
- Watch the big consumers: water heaters, irons and electric cookers dominate most bills.
- Keep your 12-month average under a band threshold (30 or 100 kWh) to stay on a cheaper tariff.
Rates are EPRA-approved 2026 figures and the monthly charges can change. Confirm the latest on EPRA or your Kenya Power SMS. See also the M-Pesa charges calculator and the budget planner.
Rates reviewed June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Kenya Power calculate my bill?
Your bill = (units × tariff) + Fuel Cost Charge + FERFA + ERC Levy + REP Levy + WARMA Levy + 16% VAT, plus a KES 150 fixed service charge for postpaid customers. Tariff depends on your average monthly consumption: Lifeline (under 30 kWh), Ordinary (30-100 kWh) or High Consumption (above 100 kWh).
What are the 2026 KPLC tariffs?
Domestic Lifeline (≤30 kWh/month): KES 12.23/kWh. Domestic Ordinary (30-100 kWh): KES 16.45/kWh. Domestic High Consumption (>100 kWh): KES 19.08/kWh. These are base energy charges effective July 2025; pass-through levies (FCC, FERFA) change monthly.
Why does the same KES 1,000 buy different tokens each month?
The Fuel Cost Charge (FCC) and the forex adjustment (FERFA) vary monthly with global fuel prices and the shilling. For July 2026 meter readings the FCC is KES 3.20/kWh and FERFA jumped to KES 1.4841/kWh (nearly double June, on sector forex losses); when these rise, your KES 1,000 buys fewer units. The base energy tariff is fixed, only the pass-through charges move month to month.
What is the difference between prepaid and postpaid?
Same per-unit cost, but postpaid customers pay an extra KES 150 monthly fixed charge. Prepaid customers buy tokens upfront, you load credit, units deduct as you use them. For low-consumption households, prepaid is cheaper because you avoid the fixed charge.
How do I check which tariff category I am in?
After buying tokens, KPLC sends an SMS showing units credited. Divide the pre-VAT amount by units bought: if it equals roughly KES 12, you are Lifeline; KES 16 = Ordinary; KES 19 = High Consumption. Your category is reviewed every 12 months based on average consumption.
Did KPLC raise electricity tariffs in 2026?
No. EPRA proposed a 14% to 31% increase for 2026/2027 (lifeline up to about KES 14/kWh, ordinary to about KES 21.68), but the government withdrew and shelved the review in June 2026. So the current rates still apply: Lifeline KES 12.23, Ordinary KES 16.45 and High Consumption KES 19.08 per kWh. Only the monthly fuel and forex charges continue to move.