Press Release
25th November, 2011
Technology to help ease electricity connection
You will soon be able to apply for power connection and receive a quotation from Kenya Power within a day, thanks to a digital mapping system adopted by the Company recently.
The new computer based application, which uses the Geographical Information System (GIS), is part of Kenya Power’s Shs.259 million Facilities Database project aimed at enhancing the Company’s operations and customer service.
Project Engineer, Eng. Simon Mwangi, said the system which is being piloted in Nairobi Region, has started bearing fruits with more than 70% applicants in Nairobi receiving their quotations for supply of electricity on the same day they apply.
“The existing procedure requires a prospective electricity customer to fill in an application form and submit a sketch map of his house or premises from the nearest transformer. Surveyors would then be sent to the location to verify the details, from which the Company would calculate the cost for the connection. The process would normally take weeks to conclude,” Eng. Mwangi said.
However, he said, the new system will drastically cut power connection lead times to a matter of days, as well as reduce repetitive visits to customers’ premises. This will, in turn, reduce the connection period for customers.
“It will ease and speed up design of projects. Designers will not be required to physically visit the premises of a person applying for power supply as they will be able to locate a customer’s location on spatial maps from their offices on which the electricity system is also shown.
“Our designers are able to quote seven in every ten applications received in the last two weeks on a walk-in walk-out basis. This is expected to improve as more transformers and lines are updated in the system,” he added.
Eng. Mwangi said the Company plans to link the system to its recently refurbished System Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) power management system to ease location of faults along its grid network at a remote location.
Kenya Power is currently compiling all useful data for the system to be effective, including customer premises, meters, meter boards, power lines, transformers, substations and offices for inclusion in the new system.
Customer details are marked on a digital map with the power lines and equipment that feed each customer. The map includes aerial and satellite images such as Google Earth for ease of locating customer premises.
In addition to promoting operational efficiency, the Company hopes to improve its profitability by resolving network losses monitored online and minimizing lost business opportunities.
Kenya Power recently began a process of automating its power distribution in Nairobi and Mombasa at a cost of Shs.500 million. Upon completion, the project will facilitate the efficient monitoring and quick resolution of disturbances in the power network in order to minimise interruption of electricity to customers.
ENDS…………………….
For more information, contact:
Kenya Power Corporate Communications Dept.
Tel. 3201622/39or/47
Central Office – Stima Plaza – Kolobot Rd – Parklands P O Box 30099 Nairobi 00100 Phone: (254-20) 3201622