City overcharge dispute continues

WINDHOEK residents who have been overcharged on their electricity bills since last year will have to wait another few weeks for a final ruling on the matter, which is expected to be made by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Erkki Nghimtina.

Since July 2006, the City of Windhoek has reportedly overcharged residents and businesses by some 10 per cent for electricity. It also overcharged customers on the levy due to the regulator, the Electricity Control Board (ECB), but that was corrected last year.However, the City is disputing it.The ECB is sticking to its guns.In a written report to the Minister of Mines and Energy it remains adamant that the City is overcharging private and business consumers by 10 per cent above the approved tariff increase.In terms of the Electricity Act, a licence holder for electricity distribution, such as the City of Windhoek, can lodge an “administrative appeal” against a finding by the ECB.”We have received the appeal of the Windhoek municipality,” an ECB official told The Namibian.”The ECB will now respond to the appeal over the next few days and submit both documents – the appeal and our response – to the Minister.The Minister will then make his judgement.”This will in all likelihood still happen this month.If either of the two parties are dissatisfied with the Minister’s decision, the matter could land in the courts, an official at the municipality told The Namibian.The official, who requested anonymity, was adamant that the City had adjusted the electricity tariffs correctly.It also overcharged customers on the levy due to the regulator, the Electricity Control Board (ECB), but that was corrected last year.However, the City is disputing it.The ECB is sticking to its guns.In a written report to the Minister of Mines and Energy it remains adamant that the City is overcharging private and business consumers by 10 per cent above the approved tariff increase.In terms of the Electricity Act, a licence holder for electricity distribution, such as the City of Windhoek, can lodge an “administrative appeal” against a finding by the ECB.”We have received the appeal of the Windhoek municipality,” an ECB official told The Namibian.”The ECB will now respond to the appeal over the next few days and submit both documents – the appeal and our response – to the Minister.The Minister will then make his judgement.”This will in all likelihood still happen this month.If either of the two parties are dissatisfied with the Minister’s decision, the matter could land in the courts, an official at the municipality told The Namibian.The official, who requested anonymity, was adamant that the City had adjusted the electricity tariffs correctly.