Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has amended the electricity tariff schedule for electric mobility, replacing the 15,000 kWh monthly ceiling with a dynamic Energy Consumption Threshold mechanism. The change, published in the Kenya Gazette on September 18, 2026, modifies a regulatory framework established in 2023 to encourage electric mobility adoption. Under the new rules, high-volume electric vehicle charging, commercial fleet depots, and battery-swapping networks can continue accessing preferential electricity pricing and discounted off-peak rates without encountering a rigid consumption ceiling.
The regulatory shift comes in response to rapid growth in electricity demand from Kenya’s expanding electric transport sector. Consumption under the e-mobility tariff reached 5.04 GWh in the year ending June 2025, up from 1.26 GWh in the previous year, while the number of billed e-mobility customers reached 69. State utility Kenya Power reported cumulative EV charging revenue of 382 million Kenyan Shillings between July 2023 and April 2026, with monthly charging electricity consumption expanding to approximately 1.5 million kWh.
The 15,000 kWh monthly limit created operational constraints for commercial charging operators, electric bus fleets, and motorcycle battery-swapping networks. Fleet operators such as BasiGo utilize batteries ranging from 176 kWh to 210 kWh and deploy high-capacity chargers up to 200 kW across charging depots designed for dozens of vehicles. Under the updated framework, the Energy Consumption Threshold for existing customers is calculated from their average consumption over the previous six consecutive months, while new customers are evaluated based on their first three consecutive months.
The amended tariff structure maintains the base energy charge of 16 Kenyan Shillings per kWh for customers supplied at 240 or 415 volts, along with an off-peak rate of 8 Kenyan Shillings per kWh. Although the regulatory change improves power procurement economics for infrastructure operators, retail charging rates at public fast chargers remain higher due to capital investments, equipment maintenance, and pass-through costs. The reform forms part of Kenya’s broader National Electric Mobility Policy launched in February 2026, which targets infrastructure expansion, grid integration, and supply reliability.
