Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is proposing to expand the number of appliances it regulates to include televisions, computers, and computer monitors. The move is aimed at ensuring that these appliances conform to strict energy-saving rules.
As of now, EPRA regulates refrigerators, non-ducted air conditioners, three-phase cage induction motors, self-ballasted lamps, double-capped fluorescent lamps, and ballasts for fluorescent lamps. The Energy (Appliances Energy Labelling and Performance) Regulations, 2016, enforce Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for these appliances and mandate EPRA to vet them to check their minimum energy performance in a bid to enhance national energy savings.
When classifying these equipment, EPRA employs a five-star labeling scheme which tags the highest performing appliance with five stars, while the lowest with one star, giving consumers reliable information to decide on what they want to buy.
In doing so, the energy regulator hopes that televisions, computers, and computer monitors will be able to help consumers reduce their energy consumption and ultimately save money. Electricity prices remain high in the country and if EPRA goes a head to include more equipment on their radar will ultimately help consumers make economic concious decisions.
Additionally, EPRA is evaluating the effectiveness of the MEPS program by measuring the energy savings that have been achieved thus far. The agency stated that this evaluation will help determine the economic, social, environmental, and cultural advantages stemming from the program that was implemented in 2016. It will also simulate the potential advantages that could be gained from including televisions, computer monitors, and computers within the current regulations.
As of now, EPRA charges application fees of Sh150,000 for models of lamps and ballasts, Sh250,000 for refrigerators, and Sh500,000 for motors and air conditioners. Given that energy efficiency and conservation are considered crucial in reducing Kenya’s financial, environmental, social, and cultural cost of production, it is probable that the law will be amended to encompass more commonly used appliances under the purview of EPRA.