Kenya Power last month set up a Live Line laboratory that is expected to boost access to electricity and reduce revenue losses.
The laboratory which was set up at cost of Sh340 million under the Kenya Electricity Modernization Project (KEMP), is the first of its kind in East and Central Africa and it comes three years after the launch of the Live Line maintenance initiative. It will enable the power utility to be able to undertake maintenance without switching off customers, hence enhancing the reliability of electricity supply. According to Geoffrey Muli, Kenya Power acting managing director, the move is a first in the region and it is to enhance how the company handles maintenance.
“Kenya is the first country in East and Central Africa to deploy the use of live-line technology, which provides for the maintenance of the high and medium voltage networks, without switching off customers,” he said.
For years, customers had to go for more than 10 hours a day without electricity, as it was the only solution to maintain its transmission lines. If anything, this highlights the importance of the live line maintenance technology. With the laboratory, the utility company will be able to test and certify its live line work tools and equipment such as trucks, link sticks and gloves, among others. Not only would this ensure safety, it will also lead to savings for both users and the company.
Prior to the laboratory, Kenya power would outsource to have its live line equipment tested, costing the company Sh36 million every year. According to Mr Muli, there are 35 live line teams spread across the country and they are only able to work at least two locations in a week. Requiring a switch off to work, this would result in a minimum saving on revenue loss of Sh17.5 million per week and about Sh1 billion annually.
“As a result of the laboratory, the company will be able to realise savings in terms of payment for these services which were previously outsourced and it will ultimately increase the reliability of its power supply as well as raise profitability by reducing revenue losses,” said Mr Muli.
The Laboratory is set to be equipped with various testing apparatus such as a rubber glove and sleeve tester, line hose tester, rubber insulating blanket tester, hot stick tester, rubber goods washer, rubber goods dryer, and portable testing equipment used in the field to check the insulation on trucks among others. They will significantly contribute to the gains associated with the live line maintenance program such as reduction in unserved energy and improved customer satisfaction.
With the lab fully functioning, new premium customers will be able to be connected without waiting for a shutdown, this will be a double gain as the customers will be brought on board as soon as they are ready and the company will be able to meet its service charter timelines for customer connections. Furthermore, the company looks to expand the scope of the laboratory to test the equipment of other organizations.
In fact, according to the utility company, plans are already underway to get the laboratory accredited by the Kenya Accreditation Services (KENAS) so that it can test rubber insulating equipment for other organisations within the country and the region on a
commercial basis. (
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