Keetmanshoop approves electricity tariff increase

THE Keetmanshoop Town Council on Tuesday approved a 13,3 per cent electricity tariff increase proposed by the town’s electricity supplier, Southern Electricity Company (SELCo).

However, a condition was attached to the approval – that SELCo convene a community meeting to explain the reasons for the tariff increase.The Keetmanshoop Town Council and SELCo are currently embroiled in a legal battle because of the Council’s cancellation of a 15-year electricity supply deal signed with SELCo in August 2000. A source close to the Council indicated that both parties had closed their cases in the High Court and were awaiting judgement. ‘We’re only waiting for a judgement, but I don’t know why it is taking that long for the High Court judges to deliver it,’ the source said. At Tuesday’s meeting it also surfaced that Keetmanshoop CEO Paul Vleermuis and his management team have failed to implement resolutions of past Council meetings. At the meeting, the Council also had to endorse a backlog of Management Committee and Council meeting minutes, because the Town Council had failed to hold regular ordinary meetings.luqman@namibian.com.na