500 students hired to help collect Sh3.9bn power bills
What you need to know:
- The students will be from the Institute of Energy Studies and Research as well as technical colleges located near Kenya Power’s offices countrywide.
- Mr Chumo warned that the company would start disconnecting accounts that are in arrears across the country including public and private entities.
- By increasing the number of meter readers, Kenya Power hopes that the plan would help it detect meter tampering, which has contributed to huge revenue loss.
Kenya Power has stepped up efforts to collect Sh3.9 billion owed by customers in unpaid bills.
The utility firm yesterday said it was hiring 500 students, who will work as meter readers.
“Low meter reading coverage averaging 66 per cent has, over the years, led to the accrued debt. Our monthly revenue collection averages Sh10 billion,” said managing director Ben Chumo.
The students will be from the Institute of Energy Studies and Research as well as technical colleges located near Kenya Power’s offices countrywide.
Mr Chumo warned that the company would start disconnecting accounts that are in arrears across the country including public and private entities.
It is understood that most of the outstanding debt belong to public institutions such as prisons, police department and water services, among others.
By increasing the number of meter readers, Kenya Power hopes that the plan would help it detect meter tampering, which has contributed to huge revenue loss.
The company currently has about 700 meter readers. In February, attempts by Kenya Power’s management to outsource meter reading services were stopped by the Employment and Labour Relations Court pending determination of a suit filed by the Kenya Electrical Trades and Allied Workers Union.
