COVID-19: Homes turn to solar energy to avoid recurrent electricity bi*ls
The effects of the coronavirus pandemic are impacting on Kenyans in different ways on the comic sphere, with utility bills likely to be a major pinch.
Kenyans in the urban areas have to grapple with recurrent costs on urgent utilities like water and electricity.
With virtually all sectors of the economy taking a hit, the bite has affected income for families as many have been forced to either take a huge pay cut or be declared redundant for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many people are being forced to adjust their priorities and some bills might be considered a luxury as the adjustment to the reality of coronavirus takes shape.
Electricity might be one of those spending items that could be struck off should families have to sacrifice their comfort because water is a basic need and people can't live without.
As families grapple with this reality, Alex Olum, General Manager of d.light solar solutions Kenya, says this provides the best time for the world to explore alternative ways of lighting their homes and powering items that require electric energy.
"There are several options in terms of alternative energy sources and for the case of Kenyans, solar is the obvious one because it does not need any complex infrastructure, we are blessed to have plenty of sunshine," he says.
"All one needs is to get a solar panel installed and they would not have to bother about electricity bills as a necessary expenditure. It will only come as a luxury," he added.
Olum explains that d.light offers flexible opportunities for Kenyans of all walks of life to access solar power and use it at their homes.
