Bring it on, Mayor tells the ECB

WINDHOEK Mayor Matheus Shikongo says the municipality is not overcharging residents and that electricity tariffs were “correctly increased” by eight per cent in the middle of last year.

“It is not true and it is a deliberate campaign by our colleagues,” Shikongo claimed yesterday, hinting at the Electricity Control Board (ECB). The ECB, the national regulator, has consistently said that the city is overcharging residents.”They [the ECB] try to confuse the issue, we can challenge them on that,” he charged.Shikongo spoke to reporters after meeting with President Hifikepunye Pohamba at State House in Windhoek yesterday afternoon.”The City increased electricity tariffs by eight per cent, which was below the 10,2 per cent the ECB approved,” Mayor Shikongo maintained.But the ECB claims that Windhoek residents were definitely overcharged by 4,1 per cent.”The ECB board approved only a 10,2 per cent increase and the City raised electricity tariffs by 14,3 per cent – that is a difference of 4,1 per cent, ECB Legal Advisor Jackie Scholz told The Namibian yesterday.”We expect them to reduce the increase to the correct percentage.”The municipality also issued a press statement yesterday, in which claimed it would ensure that consumers “are not burdened with costs related to the restructuring of the electricity supply industry before they are properly informed of this exercise and the related costs thereof”.”As was stated before, the City of Windhoek only introduced an average increase on the electricity tariff of about eight per cent although an average increase of 10,2 per cent has been approved by the ECB,” said public relations officer Liz Sibindi “The City, as a responsible organisation, is committed to deal with issues in a professional and technically correct manner,” Sibindi said in the statement.”We remain committed to render affordable, efficient and effective services to all our customers through the optimal use of resources, technology and sound financial and environmental practices.”The ECB, the national regulator, has consistently said that the city is overcharging residents.”They [the ECB] try to confuse the issue, we can challenge them on that,” he charged.Shikongo spoke to reporters after meeting with President Hifikepunye Pohamba at State House in Windhoek yesterday afternoon.”The City increased electricity tariffs by eight per cent, which was below the 10,2 per cent the ECB approved,” Mayor Shikongo maintained.But the ECB claims that Windhoek residents were definitely overcharged by 4,1 per cent.”The ECB board approved only a 10,2 per cent increase and the City raised electricity tariffs by 14,3 per cent – that is a difference of 4,1 per cent, ECB Legal Advisor Jackie Scholz told The Namibian yesterday.”We expect them to reduce the increase to the correct percentage.”The municipality also issued a press statement yesterday, in which claimed it would ensure that consumers “are not burdened with costs related to the restructuring of the electricity supply industry before they are properly informed of this exercise and the related costs thereof”.”As was stated before, the City of Windhoek only introduced an average increase on the electricity tariff of about eight per cent although an average increase of 10,2 per cent has been approved by the ECB,” said public relations officer Liz Sibindi “The City, as a responsible organisation, is committed to deal with issues in a professional and technically correct manner,” Sibindi said in the statement.”We remain committed to render affordable, efficient and effective services to all our customers through the optimal use of resources, technology and sound financial and environmental practices.”