This archive report was first published on 2 November 2019.
Kenya's ongoing rainy season is set to bring a welcome relief to consumers' electricity bills. According to the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), the heavy rains have led to a significant increase in water levels at the Seven Forks dams, including Masinga Dam, in Embu.
As the short rains continue, the dams are expected to fill up in the coming weeks. This surplus in electricity generation will be matched by a steady demand, resulting in lower electricity bills for consumers.
KenGen operates power plants on the Sondu Miriu River and Turkwel Dam, and the high water levels in these dams will enable the company to increase power production using hydro plants. This, in turn, will reduce the reliance on power generated by Independent Power Producers.
"This means that despite the floods along rivers Turkwel and Tana, the dams are not yet full and all the water, except the amounts being used for power generation, is being retained in the dams for later use," said KenGen in a statement.
KenGen also highlighted the importance of the dams' overflow structures, which allow water to flow back to the natural course in the respective rivers, thereby controlling water flowing downstream during heavy rains season.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecasted that the heavy rains will continue, and KenGen has pledged to provide prompt information on water inflows and levels to facilitate proper management of the situation.
Currently, the Sondu Miriu dam is on the brink of filling up, with water levels standing at 1,402.30 metres against the dam's full capacity of 1,402.50 metres above sea level. Other dams, such as Kamburu and Masinga, are also almost full, while Turkwel, Gitaru, Kindaruma, and Kiambere are nearing overflow in the next few weeks.
