Nairobi,
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
KNA by Sharon Atieno
Plans are underway for the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), to connect a total of 400,000 households and business premises, to the national grid by December 2024 and by 2030.
The Director General for Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Daniel Kiptoo, said the Authority’s target is to install a total of Four million new connections by 2030.
“The current number of connections has been on a steady rise and has an expansion, which must be decreed in the energy sectors,” said Kiptoo.
The Director General made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by the Director, Electricity, Renewable Energy and Energy efficiency, Eng Joseph Oketch, during the Validation Workshop for the Draft Energy (Electricity Incident and Accident Reporting) Regulations, 2024, that was held at a Nairobi hotel.
The workshop aims to formulate, set, enforce and review the environmental, health, safety quality standards for the energy sector, affecting safety of poor wiring, illegal connections and installation within the energy sector, that causes Electric Incident and Accident Reporting Regulations, 2024, in collaboration with the key stakeholders, who include Kenya Power, Ketraco, KenGen among others.
EPRA has develop and implemented regulations with Kenya Power, who own and operates and electric power grid across the country and DOSHS, who is In-Charge of safety issues in the country. Kiptoo said EPRA anticipates free and speedy key development, which will ensure the safety of everyone who is involved in the energy sector.
The Director General said that the development is guided by Section 214 of the Act, where it requires persons involved in works within the energy sector to report any incident that causes loss of lives, injury, explosion, oil spill, fire or any incident or accident-causing harm or damage in the environment or property within 48 hours.
He noted that the protection of life, property and general safety of the public in the energy sector is not explicitly covered by the existing laws that are addressing electricity related incidents.
“The energy regarding electricity incident and accident reporting requires licensees to put in place stringed safety and health measures to avert loss of lives, maiming, loss of property or damage due to electricity related accidents arising from poor use or illegal activities,” he said.
The Director General noted that the Regulation 2024 has established an end-to-end mechanism that will prevent, collect information and reporting to the Authority, while giving room to individuals to carry out an investigation, which brings permanent solutions that avert the reoccurrence of reported accidents.
Kiptoo further stated that the sector identifies and addresses potential hazards, before it escalates into more significant threats, whether it is a faulty electrical connection in one’s home or malfunctioning component in a power plant, saying ones safety is not EPRAs top priority, as stipulated in the regulations.
He said that the regulations have enhanced transparency and accountability within the energy sector, by empowering the Authority to hold offending parties accountable for their actions through fines and penalties listed in the Draft.
“Transparency is intended to foster trust among consumers and investors, who benefit from the entire energy Sector,” stated Kiptoo.
The Director General said the licensees will be motivated to invest in prevention measures and employee training, in order to mitigate risks and enhance safety standards.
He noted the issue of compensation and post-accident response that has been represented in the regulation, will be require licensees to have an insurance cover for liability that may incur due to safety incidents.
“For transparency and adequate access to this data, EPRA will publish the standard procedures for rising claims on the website, which provides relief to accident victims as guided by the regulations,” he said.
The Director General announced that the Authority will conduct inspections, to ensure that the regulations are implemented, as it continues sets-up an online system that will make it easy for licensees to report incidents and accidents.
He urged all stakeholders to unite in constructing a safer, more dependable energy future for the future generations, by embracing the regulations and endorsing implementation to enhance the resilience of the energy sector, as well as safeguarding citizens and the collective pursuit of sustainable development.
Courtesy; KNA
