Kenya Power is urging homeowners and businesses to provide access to electricity meters as it implements a new nationwide digital system aimed at replacing manual readings.
The utility said that restricted premises, locked gates, and sealed meter boxes are slowing down the collection of accurate readings for millions of customers.
In a notice dated March 9, Kenya Power asked customers to allow authorised staff to scan meters on-site using the new Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system.
This system captures readings instantly and transmits them directly into the billing platform, reducing delays and errors that have affected manual meter reading for years.
“As the system is being rolled out across the country, we have noted that locked premises and meter boxes are the main challenge affecting meter reading. Customers are therefore kindly requested to allow our staff access to meters within their premises, including opening meter boxes where necessary,” Kenya Power said.
The OCR technology allows field teams to use device cameras to record meter readings automatically, removing the need for manual entry. Kenya Power said the new process will make billing faster and more precise, ensuring customers receive correct electricity statements every month.
“The OCR system allows our teams to scan meter displays directly, instead of manually typing meter numbers and readings. This improves the accuracy and efficiency of billing, helping ensure customers receive correct bills,” the utility added.
The system can read both digital and mechanical meters, allowing electricity consumption to be logged in seconds. Kenya Power said this eliminates paperwork and handwritten logs that previously slowed down the billing process.
The rollout is part of a wider digital transformation plan designed to improve operational efficiency and customer experience. Scanning meters directly is expected to reduce disputes over estimated bills and enhance transparency in electricity billing nationwide.
Initially deployed in Nairobi in November 2025, the OCR system has now expanded to cover other regions, targeting almost two million postpaid meters across the country.
For customer safety, Kenya Power reminded residents to verify staff identities before granting access. “For your safety, all Kenya Power staff visiting customer premises will carry official identification cards with their staff number and national ID details,” the statement read.