Power bills escalate as electricity is wasted

By Ibrahim Kasita

KARYE Mpunu is a happy man because he has stable electricity supply in his premises. His family can watch television, listen to radio, iron clothes and enjoy cold drinks as the fridge is switched on all the time. The kids can also play their video games at leisure 

There are 12 bulbs both inside and outside the premises. Life is too good that the family forgets to switch-off the lights during the day.

All this thanks to the increased power production courtesy to the $860m Bujagali Hydropower Project which started commercial operations in February.

Power supply increases

The project is now delivering 150 MW out of the full capacity of 250 MW to the national grid for consumption. The balance is expected online next month. The immediate implication is that electricity supply is back to the situation before emergency thermal power plants were procured to mitigate acute 120 hour load-shedding experienced seven years ago.

Power consumers are not expected to experience power outages for over a week. And if load-shedding happens it must not be more than two hours unless there is maintenance work in the distribution system.

It also means that power deficit during daytime and evening will be met adequately -at least for 18-month uninterrupted. 

This is in line with President Yoweri Museveni's strategic decision to eliminate expensive thermal generators and redirect the money used for their operation to implement the construct the 600MW Karuma Hydropower project.

Electricity is expensive

However, like Karye Mpunu, the majority of power users have quickly forgotten that electricity is expensive and there is a need to use it sparingly to avoid paying high unnecessary bills. 

Ntuntu Rwamunono was furious when his power bills for the month ended May doubled to sh50,000 from the previous sh24,000. He forgot that a unit cost of households was raised to sh524.5 effective mid-January from sh385.6 as power subsidies were removed.

Later Ntuntu confessed that he has not been switching-off the security lights and there has been increased usage of electricity at his home.

Such negligence has cost him dearly yet can be avoided. "Production of electricity is more expensive than saving it," Eng. Simon D'Ujanga, the state minister for energy, said.

Use energy efficient tecnologies

“People should conserve energy and use it sparing. When you spare electricity you spare your pockets. The spared power is used for other economic activities and productivity.”

Experts estimate that it costs $2.5m to construct and produce a megawatt (enough power to light Fort Portal). But it takes less than $1m to save the same energy. Efficient usage of energy support economic growth ensures security and a cleaner environment for sustainable development.

“Consumers are encouraged to switch off electrical appliances which are not required. For instance, it is not uncommon to see security lights lit during the day,” Eng. Irene Muloni, the minister of energy and mineral development, said.

“Practicing energy efficiency will not only contribute to the supply strategy but will also help individual consumers to manage their electricity bills.”

No silver-bullet 

James Baanabe, the commissioner in charge of renewable energy, pointed out that the biggest problem is lack of awareness of energy efficiency technologies.

“When people go to the shops they are attracted by the price of the bulbs or appliances. They opt for cheap ones which consume more energy,” he said.

“But you have to pay for more energy efficient technologies. While the cost is high the energy consumed is less and you end up saving money. Cheap things are always expensive in the long run.”

There is no ‘silver bullet’ to solve all of our energy challenges but the number one action that can be taken by everyone is energy efficiency.

If we make our homes more efficient we are not wasting any of the energy we consume. Energy efficiency is also the cheapest solution to these energy challenges.