Kenya Power Customers Faced Worst Outages in May, EPRA Report

Kenya Power Customers Faced Worst Outages in May, EPRA Report

Kenya Power customers experienced the most frequent and longest electricity interruptions of the 2025/2026 financial year in May, according to the latest Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) report.

The regulator’s annual Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report for the financial year ended June 30, 2026, shows that May recorded the highest levels of power interruptions across the three key electricity reliability indicators used to measure customer experience. EPRA lists the annual 2026 report as covering electricity sector performance during the financial year ended June 30, 2026.

Customers experienced an average of 4.98 interruptions during the month, making May the month with the highest interruption frequency in the year.

The month also recorded a System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) of 27.33 hours. This means the average customer experienced more than a full day of cumulative electricity interruptions during the month.

May further posted a Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) of 5.49 hours, indicating that each sustained interruption affecting customers lasted more than five hours on average before supply was restored.

Annual Power Outages Remained Above EPRA Targets

The May figures formed part of a wider reliability challenge recorded during the 2025/2026 financial year.

Across the year, customers experienced an average of 13.16 hours of electricity interruptions, compared with 9.42 hours in the previous financial year.

The annual SAIDI figure was significantly above EPRA’s target of 1.5 hours. The frequency of interruptions also remained above the regulator’s target, with customers experiencing an average of 3.91 interruptions per month against a target of 1.10.

EPRA uses three main reliability indicators — SAIDI, SAIFI and CAIDI — to measure the frequency of outages, the total duration of interruptions and the average time taken to restore electricity after an interruption.

The regulator’s biannual report had already shown that electricity reliability was above the prescribed thresholds during the first half of the financial year. Between July and December 2025, customers experienced an average of 8.39 hours of interruptions per month and 3.52 interruptions per month.

Impact on Homes and Businesses

Frequent power outages can affect households that rely on electricity for lighting, cooking, refrigeration, water pumping and internet connectivity.

For businesses, prolonged interruptions can result in lost operating hours, particularly for enterprises that depend on computers, machinery, refrigeration equipment and electronic payment systems.

Small businesses such as salons, restaurants, workshops and retail outlets can also incur additional costs when they are forced to rely on alternative sources of electricity.

Manufacturers and other electricity-intensive businesses face similar challenges because interruptions can stop production processes and affect delivery schedules.

Power Reliability Remains Key Issue

The latest figures are likely to keep electricity reliability in focus as Kenya seeks to expand industrial activity and digital services.

EPRA is responsible for economic and technical regulation of Kenya’s electricity sector, while Kenya Power handles electricity distribution and retail supply to customers. The regulator also approves retail electricity tariffs.

The reliability data comes as EPRA continues to monitor the performance of the electricity sector and regulate service standards.

For consumers, May’s figures highlight the gap between the regulator’s prescribed reliability targets and the actual experience recorded during the month.

The report therefore places May 2026 among the most challenging months for Kenya Power customers during the financial year, with the highest recorded interruption frequency, the longest cumulative outage duration and the longest average duration for individual interruptions.

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Kenya Power Customers Faced Worst Outages in May, EPRA Report