Photo | courtesy.
“How long does it take to repair a transformer? We’ve been in the dark for two weeks!”
It’s a familiar cry from frustrated residents who have had to navigate life without electricity sometimes for days, often for weeks.
Between July 2022 and June 2023, the average power outages was 2.25 hours per month, according to Energy and Petroleum Report 2022.
Transformer failures contribute to the power outages. For many communities across Kenya, the wait for light can feel endless.
According to Kenya power, several factors contribute to tranformer failures including but not limited to illegal power connections, substandard tranfomers and vandalism.
Overload from illegal tapping
Topping the list is overloading, a problem made worse by unauthorized electricity connections and the ever-rising demand for power in densely populated areas.
“One of the top culprits behind transformer failure is overloading and unauthorized connections are often to blame,” the statement reads.
Illegal tapping into the grid and the use of high-wattage appliances can easily push transformers beyond their intended limits. The result? Dangerous voltage fluctuations, overheating, and ultimately, burnout.
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The irony is that these short-term fixes for power access can end up leaving entire neighborhoods in the dark for far longer than anyone anticipates.
Vandalism
Kenya Power says transformers are frequent targets for criminals looking to steal copper windings and drain cooling oil, both of which are essential for the safe operation of the equipment.
“These units contain specialized cooling oil and valuable copper windings, both of which are attractive to criminals,” the company notes.
Restoring power without these critical components is risky. Without proper cooling, a transformer can overheat and burn out in a matter of hours compounding the damage and extending repair timelines.
Environmental Hazards and the Climate Crisis
Environmental damage is also taking its toll. From lightning strikes and falling trees to floods and soaring temperatures, Kenya’s power infrastructure faces an onslaught of natural threats.
“Mother Nature doesn’t go easy on electrical infrastructure and transformers are no exception,” the power company says.
Worryingly, climate change is intensifying these risks. Severe weather events are becoming more frequent, placing additional stress on an already aging system.
“The risk to our power systems continues to grow and so does the challenge of keeping the lights on,” Kenya Power warns.
Substandard Transformers
Sometimes, a transformer’s demise is written into its DNA. Manufacturing defects, such as poor design or low-quality materials, can set the stage for early failure especially during periods of peak demand.
“These hidden weaknesses often go unnoticed until the unit is placed under heavy load typically during periods of high demand,” Kenya power explains.
It’s a reminder that even new infrastructure isn’t immune to problems, especially when flaws go undetected until it’s too late.
Aging Power Infrastructure
Finally, there’s the issue of aging transformers many of which have been in service far beyond their expected lifespan.
Time erodes even the most robust machines, and power infrastructure is no exception.
“An aging transformer is a ticking time bomb when it goes, the resulting outage can be prolonged and costly,” Kenya Power states.
Worn-out insulation, corroded metal parts, and general wear and tear make these older units increasingly prone to failure and more difficult to repair or replace.
While outages resulting from transformer related issues persists, Kenya Power admits that they are preventable.
“Many of these outages stem from preventable issues small oversights that can lead to weeks of frustration for customers,” the power company admits.
