Nairobi, November 24- Kenya Power has introduced a new technology to make electricity billing more accurate, faster, and efficient. This system, called Optical Character Recognition (OCR), is part of the company’s efforts to modernize its operations and improve customer experience.
So, how does it work? Traditionally, meter readers would manually write down the numbers from your electricity meter and type them into the system a process prone to mistakes. With OCR, the meter reader simply scans the meter display, and the reading is instantly captured digitally. This reduces human error and speeds up the process of collecting monthly consumption data.
The new system has been rolled out across all eight regions of Kenya Power, following a successful six-month pilot in Nairobi earlier this year. It will gradually cover all 1.8 million postpaid meters that still require manual readings.
Kenya Power expects this technology to significantly cut down billing errors, which are often caused by misread or incorrectly entered data. These errors have long been a source of customer complaints, and the OCR system is designed to address this problem effectively.
Richard Wida, Kenya Power’s Commercial Cycle Manager, explained, “With OCR, the meter reader just scans the meter, and the system records the readings automatically. This saves time and eliminates mistakes that can happen when numbers are entered manually.”
The OCR system will also integrate with Kenya Power’s digital platforms, like the Mypower App and USSD code *977#, where customers can already check bills, report outages, and submit their own meter readings. Eventually, customers will be able to use OCR for self-reading, making it even easier and more accurate to submit meter data.
In addition to OCR, Kenya Power is also using smart meters for large consumers, small businesses, and selected homes. Unlike conventional meters, smart meters allow two-way communication, meaning readings, disconnections, and reconnections can be done remotely no on-site visits needed.
This move is part of Kenya Power’s broader digital transformation journey, aimed at improving service delivery and customer satisfaction. With OCR now in use, customers can expect faster, more accurate billing and fewer disputes over electricity charges in the near future.
