Kenya Power has unveiled a new Optical Character Recognition (OCR) meter reading system in a major move aimed at improving billing accuracy, speeding up data collection, and enhancing customer experience. The company officially announced the nationwide rollout on Monday, November 24, 2025, marking a key milestone in its ongoing digital transformation agenda.
The OCR technology replaces the traditional manual process where meter readers physically typed in meter numbers and consumption figures. Instead, staff can now simply scan the meter display, enabling instant and accurate digital capture of readings. According to Kenya Power, this shift will significantly reduce human error while cutting down the time spent collecting monthly consumption data.
“Technology is a major driver of our business, and in terms of billing, specifically meter reading, we have been looking at how to make it better and more accurate,” said Commercial Cycle Manager Richard Wida. He noted that the new system will help eliminate common billing discrepancies caused by misread or inaccurately entered data.
The rollout follows a successful six-month pilot programme conducted in Nairobi between March and September 2025. With the system performing well in the pilot phase, Kenya Power now plans to deploy the technology across all 1.8 million postpaid meters that still require physical reading.
Beyond operational efficiency, the OCR system is expected to play a critical role in addressing long-standing customer complaints about billing anomalies. It also complements other digital innovations Kenya Power has launched, including the Mypower App and USSD code *977#, which allow customers to check bills, report outages, and submit self-readings.
Wida revealed that the utility company is also working toward enabling OCR-powered self-reading, allowing customers to scan their own meters through digital platforms with minimal risk of error.
In addition to OCR, Kenya Power has expanded its smart metering system for large power users, SMEs, and selected households. These smart meters allow for remote reading, disconnections, and reconnections, reducing the need for on-site visits.
With OCR now in active rollout, Kenya Power expects improved billing accuracy, enhanced operational efficiency, and higher customer satisfaction in the coming months.
