Some Kenyan businesses on CI1 tariff are losing KES 1M–2M/year in avoidable PF surcharges
See if you are one of them. Find out exactly what you're paying in less than 10 seconds — no sign-up required.
▶Explain Power Factor — What is kW, kVAR, kVA?
What Is Power Factor? (Explained Simply)
Think of your electricity like a glass of soda. The soda does useful work. The foam is needed for magnetizing motors and transformers — but too much foam means you're paying for bubbles instead of drink. Here's how it works:
kW — The Soda
The useful energy that powers your machines, lights, and equipment. You pay for this as kWh energy charges.
Real Power
kVAR — The Foam
Reactive power needed to create magnetic fields in motors and transformers. Too much of it means you're paying for bubbles, not soda.
Reactive Power
kVA — The Whole Glass
Soda + foam together. You pay for this as demand charges. The more foam, the higher your demand charges.
Apparent Power
How KPLC Calculates Your Power Factor
KPLC measures your peak kW (useful power) and peak kVA (total power) during every 15-minute interval in the billing cycle.
Your Power Factor is simply:
PF = Peak kW ÷ Peak kVA
If your peak kW is 80 kW and your peak kVA is 100 kVA, your PF is 0.80. The closer to 1.0, the less foam you're paying for.
Why KPLC Penalizes You Below 0.90
When your Power Factor is low, KPLC must supply more current (kVA) to deliver the same useful power (kW). That means larger transformers, thicker cables, and higher losses across their entire network — all paid for by KPLC.
The penalty recovers these extra infrastructure costs from the businesses that cause them. KPLC requires PF of at least 0.90. For every 1% below that, they add a 2% surcharge on your energy and demand charges.
At PF 0.78, that's a 26% surcharge. On a bill with KSh 1.5M in energy + demand charges, that's KSh 390,000/month in surcharge alone.
The fix: A capacitor bank supplies the reactive power (kVAR) your motors need — locally at your premises — instead of KPLC sending it through the grid. This reduces kVA, improves PF, and eliminates the surcharge.
BEFORE
PF = 0.78 — Too much foam
→
Add Capacitor Bank
Capacitors supply reactive power (kVAR) locally to your motors. KPLC no longer has to send it through the grid. Less foam, same soda.
AFTER
PF = 0.99 — Just a little foam
kW — kWh Energy Charges (Soda) kVAR — Reactive Power (Foam) kVA — Demand Charges (Whole Glass)
Calculate Your Exact Surcharge & Savings
Enter your billing data manually, or fetch your latest demand data automatically.
Calculate your exact Power Factor surcharge. Select your tariff for accurate rates.
Fetch Your Latest Demand Data
Technolectric retrieves your KPLC demand data using your meter number to auto-fill all calculator fields. We are not affiliated with Kenya Power. Your data is not stored.
Or Enter Manually
Advanced — Tariff & TOU
Find this on your bill → "Method of Charge" line below the consumption table
Off-peak kWh above the TOU threshold that get the discounted rate. The rest are charged at on-peak rate.
0.99
0.900.920.950.970.99
-kVA Before
-kVA After
-kVA Saved
PF Surcharge Savings
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Demand Charge Savings
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Total Monthly Savings
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Est. System Cost
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Payback Period
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Your PF Analysis
The Hidden Cost Most Businesses Miss
KPLC charges a Power Factor surcharge when your PF drops below 0.90. The penalty is 2% of your entire energy and demand bill for every complete 1% below the threshold.
82-88%Typical Commercial PF
4-16%Penalty Rate
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