Why Government might ban instant hot showers : The Standard

You might have to get used to taking cold showers in future if the Government succeeds in banning the importation and local sale of instant hot shower equipment, that is unless you can afford the more costly alternatives. A consultant hired by the Ministry of Energy to develop an energy efficiency plan for the country has recommended the ban of importation and sale of instant hot shower heads in the country. The consultant, Germany’s Lahmeyer International noted that the water heaters present difficulties for electricity generation and transmission as well as high level of power losses due to a sudden spike in power demand that only last a short duration. The instant hot showers are popular across different households in Kenya as in addition to saving power as they are only switched on when needed, they are also cheaper to install unlike alternatives such as the traditional electric water boiler or solar water heaters. In spite of their convenience and cost effectiveness, they however pose the danger of electrocuting users and there have been a number of Kenyans that have been reported to have died in their showers. The challenge is aggravated by the proliferation of the market by fake products. Lahmeyer International was contracted by the Ministry in 2013 to draft an Energy Efficiency Masterplan which was completed in late 2016 but it is only now that the proposed masterplan has been made public. The plan, which if adopted will guide the country through to 2035, notes that a pattern whereby all Kenyans tend to switch on their instant hot showers at the same time, particularly in the morning, tends to strain the power generation and distribution systems. “Instantaneous water heaters are noxious for the generation, transmission and the distribution networks as they concentrate high power demand at the same periods. By doing so, they generate high losses, voltage drops and call for expensive generation means,” said Lahmeyer International in the report. “Consequently, instantaneous water heater import and retail should be prohibited as soon as possible. The recommendation is aiming at reducing peak power demand (not energy) through service current limitation and import prohibition.” The firm noted that the high cost of alternatives to instantaneous water heaters would hurt many Kenyans, whose incomes cannot support the installations of other water heaters such as those that are powered by solar or electric geyser water heaters. It said the Government should consider incentives and even subsidies to enhance uptake. “To mitigate any negative effects on consumers or bypassing this regulation should be implemented in a transparent and sensitive manner. This could be for instance by a step by step approach targeting areas with warmer climate first or providing information and programs on suitable substitutes,” said Lahmeyer International. “The alternative solutions are expensive or inaccessible for the low income customers (for example, solar water heaters, geysers, gas heaters). However the savings are such for the utilities that subsidies should be considered for geyser purchase for instance. The limitation of the service current is also a condition for applying time of day tariffs in the domestic sector.” The Government is already implementing regulations that require property owners to install solar water heaters. The Solar Water Heating Regulations of 2012 require owners of buildings that consume more than 100 litres of hot water per day to install solar powered water heating systems. Those affected include homes with three bedrooms and above.

Related Topics

Energy Efficiency MasterplanMinistry of EnergyGermany’s Lahmeyer International