City refuses to come unplugged on power

A MEETING between the Electricity Control Board (ECB) and the City of Windhoek, which has reportedly been overcharging residents and businesses for electricity since July, failed to produce any results yesterday.

“The City officials maintained there is no overcharge and that the ECB allegedly has no jurisdiction over them,” a source in the electricity sector said. The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, but the Ministry of Local, Regional Government and Housing was not represented, despite being invited to the meeting chaired by the ECB.An electricity expert at the ECB told The Namibian that it was decided yesterday to continue discussions for the next two weeks.”By mid-October the results of the talks will be made public,” he said.Mayor Matheus Shikongo is reported to have put the blame on “confusing media reports” regarding the controversial overcharges, which the ECB said amounted to 10 per cent.”The City of Windhoek regrets the recent reports in print media on alleged electricity overcharges,” Shikongo told the monthly City Council meeting last Thursday.”We have taken note of the issue and we look forward to the meeting [on Monday] in order to clear up the confusion through negative media reports,” Shikongo said.The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, but the Ministry of Local, Regional Government and Housing was not represented, despite being invited to the meeting chaired by the ECB.An electricity expert at the ECB told The Namibian that it was decided yesterday to continue discussions for the next two weeks.”By mid-October the results of the talks will be made public,” he said.Mayor Matheus Shikongo is reported to have put the blame on “confusing media reports” regarding the controversial overcharges, which the ECB said amounted to 10 per cent.”The City of Windhoek regrets the recent reports in print media on alleged electricity overcharges,” Shikongo told the monthly City Council meeting last Thursday.”We have taken note of the issue and we look forward to the meeting [on Monday] in order to clear up the confusion through negative media reports,” Shikongo said.