The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is planning to regulate the sale of televisions, computer monitors, locally assembled computers and imported ones to ensure they conform to strict energy-saving regulations.
EPRA is currently regulating refrigerators, air conditioners, three-phase cage induction motors, self-ballasted lamps, double-capped fluorescent lamps and ballasts for fluorescent lamps.
“Our estimations are that energy-efficient appliances will help consumers reduce their energy consumption and help them save money amid high costs of electricity,” Epra stated.
The regulatory tool, Energy (Appliances’ Energy Performance and Labeling) Regulations 2016 will use Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) to guide the testing and the labeling of the appliances while the Energy (Energy Management) Regulations 2012 will enable Epra to regulate energy efficiency in designated industrial, institutional and commercial facilities.
“We have registered 1099 models of household refrigerators, 333 non-ducted air conditioners, 12 motors and 8 self-ballasted lamps models since the originalisation of MEPS,” Epra said.
For appliance labeling, Epra currently uses a five-star labeling scheme where the highest-performing appliance has five stars, while the lowest has one star which helps the customer make a decision on what to purchase.
EPRA stated that energy efficiency and conservation will play a major role in reducing Kenya’s financial, environmental, social and cultural cost of production. It added that it will amend the law and include other widely used appliances under its scope.
The energy regulator is unpopular with the Kenya public following uproar resulting from its shocking increase of fuel prices which has seen the price of petrol shoot way above the Sh120 mark per litre in Nairobi. The agency which is legally mandated to announce monthly fuel price reviews, with demands to reverse the increments and to suspend the new prices is always under pressure from the public to reduce fuel prices.
