Namibians asked to adopt power-saving culture

In light of increasing electricity costs, Namibians have been urged to adopt a culture of saving power.

Electricity Control Board chief executive Robert Kahimise says there is a disconnect between members of the public complaining about high electricity bills and the way they use electricity.

“The same people complaining about the cost are doing nothing to save energy. Just change your bulbs, adopt a culture of saving electricity, switch off the lights before you go to bed, and don’t leave a room with lights on,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Kahimise bemoaned the lack of energy conservation culture in Namibia.

To address the issue, he said ongoing educational initiatives aim to raise awareness of electricity costs and promote energy-saving practices among households.

“There is a lot of education, which we also started two years ago, on the cost of electricity and what you can do to reduce your household bill,” he said.

Additionally, subsidies are available for low-consuming customers.
“But if you are a high consumer, the [electricity] meter pushes you into higher categories – then you pay more,” he said.

He advised consumers to contact their electricity distributors to find out how to benefit from countrywide social tariffs.
“There are social tariffs inherent across Namibia.

You just have to engage your licensee or your distributor and ask: How do I benefit from these social tariffs? Perhaps it will be to change your circuit breaker size or move from electric appliances to solar,” Kahimise said.

Electricity in southern Africa is currently the most expensive in Namibia, after Mauritius.

However, the country is one of a few that has not experienced load-shedding.
“We have been spoiled, but it’s coming at a cost,” Kahimise said.

The cost is also the result of a high electricity import bill, he said.

“Close to 55% to 60% of the electricity we consume is actually supplied from outside our borders, and that is the biggest driver of cost.”

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