Kenya power bills have been coming with shocking charges, particularly on fuel and levies. As we pay higher electricity bills due to delayed fuel cost recovery from last year, Kenyans continue to decry the high cost of living.  You have two choices: reduce your consumption or make your overall use more efficient. Saving on your power bills has big wins, and they are:

• Save money by lowering your energy bill – using various energy saving methods that are known to work.
• Saves the planet by producing less pollution and saving fuel – Kenya uses fuel to produce electricity which is the single biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions that are causing climate change.

KPLC Bill Calculations

The main Kenya Power bill components include the kilowatts consumed, taxes, fuel, and levies. The final bill is calculated by getting the difference between previous meter reading to the current multiplied by the going rate per kilowatt. Then add fuel and levies, and taxes. This can be seen on the Kenya Power website.

How to Save on Your Kenya Power Bill

Here are some of the big ways you can save on your energy bill:

1. Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

Save big by installing energy efficient light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and LED Bulbs are the most energy-efficient light bulbs and save 75%(CFL) – 90%(LED) less energy. That’s huge. To save even more, use bulbs with lower kilowatts in areas of the house where you do not necessarily need a lot of power.  Fluorescent light bulbs cost a little more than they more than pay for themselves as they last longer than incandescent light bulbs.

If you already use energy saving bulbs, remember to switch them off when not in use. Also, purchase bulbs with the size of the room in mind and for the job, it will do.

Save More: Save Money in 10 Practical Ways

2. Unplug Electronics

This goes without saying but we all forget to unplug our chargers, computers and other everyday appliances such as the tv decoder. Because of this, they stay plugged in, sucking money from your bank account. Reducing consumption with electronics requires actually turning it off. However, not all devices are made equal, so make a note of those that draw a significant amount of power to impact your power bill.  Sometimes, this can be quite hectic so you can just plug everything into one power strip and shut off when done.

Here are some that you may want to be sure you unplug as they have a standby function that consumes electricity:

• Electric Kettles – you can consider just boiling water using a stove once in a while
• Desktop Computers – letting it sleep can draw a lot of power
• Television Sets – plasma-based display
• Modern video games such as Xbox 360 and PS3

3. Purchase Energy-Efficient Appliances

Should you be in the market for any new appliances, be sure to purchase the most energy-efficient models. This way you can save big on your overall electricity costs on the most basic and essential appliances such as the fridge.

4. Run Fridge Efficiently

Your fridge is always on 24/7, making it the most expensive appliance you probably have. To run your fridge efficiently, you need to shut the door – seal it tight, with no air gaps where cold air can escape. This will help maintain the ideal fridge temperature (usually at 4-5 degrees and -15 to -18 degrees Celcius for the freezer), decreasing the overall energy consumed to maintain this ideal temperature.

Quick Tip

• Clean and maintain refrigerator coils

5.  Save on Water Heating

Water heating in the house can cost a lot, particularly for large households, especially during cold seasons. Some of the ways to save on water heating are:

• Install an efficient water heater and/or showerhead that maintains pressure while using hot water.
• Shorten your shower time
• Wash your hands with cold water

Bottom Line

All these small ways add up to noticeable savings don’t require a big investment of time or money. Over the next couple of weeks, try to implement some these methods and see how much energy you could potentially save.

What are some of the ways you are using to save on your electricity use? Share with us in the comments!