Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has recently imposed a penalty of KES 710.17 million on Kenya Power and Lighting Company(KPLC) for late payments related to electricity supply invoices.
This penalty is nearly double the amount from the previous year, which was KES 364.7 million, showing a 94.7% increase.
The growing financial tension between these two state-owned companies is raising concerns about the stability of their operations and the overall health of Kenya’s energy sector.
The fine is part of KenGen’s efforts to address the ongoing issue of late payments from KPLC. According to KenGen’s annual report, interest on late payments begins to accrue 40 days after billing or when KPLC acknowledges the invoice.
This means delays in payment can lead to substantial fines, impacting both companies’ financials.
During the fiscal year ending June 2024, total transactions between KenGen and KPLC reached KES 55.5 billion, up from KES 47.7 billion the year before.
Despite this increase in revenue, KPLC still owes KenGen about KES 17 million under their power purchase agreement. This shows that late payments are not just occasional but part of a larger pattern of financial trouble for KPLC.
KenGen has set aside some of the unpaid amounts, acknowledging an impairment of KES 866 million during the review period.
While this is an improvement from KES 1.2 billion the previous year, challenges in managing overdue payments persist.
KenGen has stressed that its dependence on KPLC as a primary customer is a significant business risk. To reduce this risk, KenGen has taken steps to minimize the chance of losses from delayed payments.
Despite these ongoing challenges, KenGen reported a strong net profit of KES 6.8 billion for the fiscal year, a 35% increase from the previous year’s KES 5 billion.
This growth was mainly driven by higher sales and an increase in green energy production, which aligns with Kenya’s broader goals for sustainable energy development.
The financial struggles between KenGenand KPLC raise important questions about the future of Kenya’s energy sector.
Since both companies are majority-owned by the government, their financial health is crucial for ensuring a stable electricity supply in the country.
The penalties imposed by KenGen are a reminder of the importance of timely payments to maintain operational efficiency and sustainability in energy production.
This situation might also lead regulatory bodies to reconsider how these state-owned companies operate and handle their financial relationships.
There could be potential reforms aimed at ensuring timely payments and creating a more resilient energy sector that can better meet Kenya’s growing electricity demands.
How they address these challenges and improve financial management will be crucial in shaping the future of electricity generation and distribution in Kenya.
