Engineers Oppose Proposed Amendments, Warn of Higher Electricity Costs



A group of engineers has opposed proposed amendments to the national energy legislation, warning that the changes could lead to a significant increase in electricity costs for consumers and businesses.

Speaking before the committee, representatives from Juno Engineering argued that the amendments would open the door for counties to impose additional charges on electricity infrastructure, particularly on way-leaves and utility poles. They maintained that these costs would ultimately be passed on to consumers, raising the cost of living and affecting economic productivity.

The engineers said the challenges cited in the amendment proposal stem from enforcement issues rather than gaps in the existing law. They recommended that counties adopt their own by-laws to penalize utilities that fail to maintain way-leaves, rather than altering the main Act.

They also expressed concern that allowing counties to seek approval from the Cabinet Secretary for certain charges could create opportunities for corruption and expose electricity providers to what they termed “double levies.” According to them, this would further strain the energy sector and discourage manufacturing and industrial growth.

“Electricity is a basic necessity in a growing economy,” one representative said. “Any increase in levies on electricity infrastructure will raise the cost of production and push up the cost of living.”

The engineers emphasized that the proposed changes appear to be a disguised attempt to introduce new charges on electricity poles and related infrastructure, referencing recent disputes between county governments and power companies.

They concluded by urging lawmakers to retain the current legal provisions and instead focus on improving regulatory enforcement at the county level. The group confirmed that it has submitted a written statement to the committee for further consideration.

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