A Senate panel wants the Kenya power to explore long-term contractual framework with the producers of electricity metres for undisrupted supply of the gadgets.
The development comes even as it emerged that the country currently has a shortfall of about 450,000 metres, hitting the government’s plan to widen connectivity.
Energy committee says long term contracts will give the companies an assurance of their products being acquired.
Some of the products have been idle for the past two years.
“We are asking Kenya Power to come up with a clear a contractual agreement with the producer to be assured of business because the state agency is their only customer,” committee chairman Wahome Wamatinga said.
He spoke when he led members on a fact finding mission to the premises of four smart electricity metre companies in Nairobi.
The committee visited Magnate Ventures Metres plant, Yocean Group, Smart Meters Company and Inhemeter Africa Company.
Wamatinga said many Kenyans have raised complaints over lack of electricity meters yet there are companies ready to produce them.
Smart Ventures CEO Stanley Kinyanjui said despite his company having the capacity to produce 4,000 smart metres per day, the last time they supplied to Kenya Power was in 2021.
Kinyanjui said they were ready to produce enough meters for the country.
He said smart metres acquisition is done through a tender system with Kenya Power and with the growing demand for houses in the country, they were ready to ensure a constant supply.
“We urge the government to support local companies like Smart Ventures which have the capacity of making enough smart electricity metres for use in the country,” he said.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said most smart metre companies do not manufacture the products locally, they assemble them locally and label them as made in Kenya.
He said Kenyans have complained over the lack of electricity metres yet there are companies capable of addressing the shortfall.
“Kenya Power should urgently come up with measures to ensure that we do not a deficit of smart electricity metres in the country,” he said.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang asked Kenya Power to come up with an electricity waste management plan.
He said in 20 years, there will be a huge number of metres that will require disposal after serving their shelf life of 15 years.
The committee said there was need for a regional market for smart metres since the companies in the country have the potential to produce enough for local use and export.