Namibia: Electricity Tariffs Skyrocket

After weeks of speculation and uncertainty, the Electricity Control Board (ECB) yesterday finally announced the highest ever electricity consumer tariff increase of 18.06 percent for the year 2008/9.

The new power tariffs take effect on July 1, putting a further strain on consumers already hard-pressed by a series of increases on consumer goods and fuel.


ECB Chief Executive Officer, Siseho Simasiku, announced that NamPower’s tariff increase application of 18.3 percent was considered on March 13.

Other NamPower tariff increases granted by the electricity regulatory body are 40 percent on energy generation, zero percent on demand (the transmission component) and 20.1 percent on basic charges.

Last week, the ECB conducted an electricity consumer survey soliciting public input on whether to introduce higher tariffs or introduce load-shedding in the near future.

Simasiku revealed yesterday that 68.7 percent of electricity consumers across the country voted for load-shedding and 31.3 percent higher tariffs. This means the approved tariffs would have been even higher if the majority of customers had opted for higher tariffs.

New Era