Kenya: State to Distribute Energy-Saving Bulbs to Conserve Power

The Government will give out one million energy-saving bulbs in exchange for the ordinary ones to conserve power as hydro-electricity sources fail to meet demand because of poor rains.

Users will be expected to drop off their standard bulbs at designated points in exchange for the energy saving ones in the exercise expected to begin this month.
The measure is expected to save the country at least 49 megawatts, a substantial amount of power especially at a time when the country’s demand is almost overtaking the supply.

The exercise comes at a time when the country is facing serious power shortage due to low rainfall that has starved hydro electricity dams of water.

KenGen announced earlier in the week that it has closed the 14 megawatt Masinga Dam because the water level has been declining steadily due to poor water supply over the last two years.

The country is operating on an electricity reserve margin of 3.5 per cent against the recommended minimum of 15 per cent, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company said.

AllAfrica