Kenya Power has begun introducing a revamped meter-reading system built on Optical Character Recognition technology, designed to speed up data capture and minimise human error.
The utility notes that the upgrade is expected to sharpen billing accuracy for the 1.8 million postpaid customers whose accounts rely on monthly physical readings. The move comes after a six-month trial in Nairobi that began in March 2025, and the firm now plans to extend the system to all eight operational regions.
Kenya Power has also confirmed that smart meters are already in place for major power consumers, SMEs and select households. According to Commercial Cycle Manager Richard Wida, eliminating manual keying was a critical step, as it has long slowed the process and contributed to inaccuracies.
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Wida explained that the new OCR tool allows meter readers to simply scan a device, after which the system automatically captures the figures. He said this approach saves time and removes the risk of typing mistakes.
The company hopes the technology will significantly reduce the inconsistencies that often trigger customer complaints, adding that automation remains key to boosting service reliability and tightening its overall performance.
