- Kenya Power is rolling out an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) meter reading system to improve billing accuracy and speed up data collection
- Kenya Power plans to transition 1.8 million postpaid meters to the new system after a successful six-month pilot in Nairobi
- Kenya Power expects the technology, combined with its digital self-service platforms, to reduce billing complaints and modernise customer service
Elijah Ntongai, an editor at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.
Kenya Power has begun nationwide deployment of a new meter reading technology.
Source: UGC
The utility said the new system is aimed at improving billing accuracy, speeding up data collection and eliminating errors associated with manual entry.
The Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system, unveiled on Monday, November 24, 2025, has replaced conventional manual typing.
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It will enable meter readers to scan meter displays, automatically capturing and processing readings with far higher precision.
What are the benefits of the new system?
Speaking during the rollout, Commercial Cycle Manager Richard Wida said the technology marks a significant step in modernising the company’s billing processes.
He noted that the automated scanning will drastically cut down the time spent per meter and curb inaccuracies that often emerge when readings are keyed in manually.
The company is implementing the system in all eight regions, following a six-month pilot in Nairobi that started in March 2025 and proved the tool’s reliability and efficiency.
Kenya Power aims to transition 1.8 million postpaid meters to the OCR-based reading model, covering customers whose meters must be physically read and updated every month for billing.
How will the billing system improve services?
The utility expects the technology to drastically reduce billing anomalies by creating a consistent and error-free data capture process.
Billing is one of the most common customer complaints.
Wida said the OCR platform is part of a broader digital transformation agenda that seeks to streamline operations and elevate customer experience across the board.
It will work alongside existing digital solutions such as the Mypower mobile app and the *977# USSD service, which provide self-service access to Kenya Power’s support channels.
Through these platforms, postpaid customers can also submit their own meter readings to ensure their monthly bills reflect actual consumption.
Kenya Power said the combination of new automated tools and expanded digital channels is designed to modernise customer service, enhance operational efficiency, and reinforce the company’s commitment to delivering accurate and reliable billing.
Source: Twitter
Kenya Power announces profit after tax
In other news, KPLC reported a profit after tax of KSh 24.47 billion for the 2024/25 financial year.
The utility said the results are supported by higher electricity unit sales, improved system efficiency, and reduced costs of sales, although this represents an 18.7% decline from the KSh 30.08 billion recorded the previous year.
The company’s total revenue rose to KSh 219.29 billion, with profit before tax reaching KSh 35.38 billion, driven by an 8% increase in electricity sales to 11,403 GWh and unit purchases growing by 787 GWh to meet domestic and industrial demand.
Notably, the utility also expanded its customer base by 401,848 new connections, pushing total connections beyond 10.1 million.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
