The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has announced plans to regulate the sale of televisions, computer monitors and computers locally made or imported into the country to ensure they conform to strict energy-saving rules.
The energy regulator currently regulates refrigerators, conditioners, three-phase cage induction motors, self-ballasted lamps, double-capped fluorescent lamps and ballasts for fluorescent lamps.
"Our estimations are that energy-efficient appliances will help consumers reduce their energy consumption and help them save money amid high costs of electricity," Epra said.
Currently, there are two regulatory tools used by Epra to enforce energy efficiency.
They include the Energy (Energy Management) Regulations 2012 and the Energy (Appliances’ Energy Performance and Labeling) Regulations 2016.
The regulatory tool, Energy (Appliances’ Energy Performance and Labeling) Regulations 2016 will use Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)to guide the testing and the labeling of the appliances.
The Energy (Energy Management) Regulations 2012 also empower Epra to regulate energy efficiency in designated industrial, institutional and commercial facilities.
"We have registered 1099 models of household refrigerators, 333 non-ducted air conditioners, 12 motors and 8 self-ballasted lamps models since the originalisation of MEPS," Epra said.
For appliance labeling, Epra currently uses a five-star labeling scheme where the highest-performing appliance has five stars, while the lowest has one star which helps the customer make a decision on what to purchase.
The energy regulator said energy efficiency and conservation will be key to reducing Kenya’s financial, environmental, social and cultural cost of production.
They added plans are underway to amend the law to include more widely used appliances under its scope.
