Overcharging? Us? No way, says City

THE Windhoek Municipality did not “overcharge” residents and businesses on their electricity bills, Liz Sibindi, the Public Relations Officer of the Municipality, said in a press statement yesterday.

She further charged that the Electricity Control Board (ECB) was not yet the regulator of local authorities with regard to electricity tariffs. “There was a miscommunication in the media,” Sibindi claimed.According to her, the ECB approved a 10,2 per cent electricity tariff increase for the municipality on June 26.”Even though the 10,2 per cent was approved, the City only introduced an average increase of eight per cent,” Sibindi said in a press statement.However, the ECB stated very clearly earlier this week that the City of Windhoek had charged residents and businesses 17,2 per cent more since July 1.An additional ECB levy of N$0,0050 charged by the City has also been criticised by the ECB – it should only be N$0,0045.Justifying the higher levy charge, Sibindi said “within the tariff structure a provision has been made for an increase of the ECB levy of 11 per cent as indicated by the ECB to the bulk supplier”.The City also introduced a levy of one cent for the future Regional Electricity Distributor (RED), which does not yet exist.The City of Windhoek tried to justify this charge by saying the one-cent levy would “cater for the cost to ring-fence the City’s Electricity department”.This was to enhance transparency within the City’s tariff structure, the press statement said.”There was a miscommunication in the media,” Sibindi claimed.According to her, the ECB approved a 10,2 per cent electricity tariff increase for the municipality on June 26.”Even though the 10,2 per cent was approved, the City only introduced an average increase of eight per cent,” Sibindi said in a press statement.However, the ECB stated very clearly earlier this week that the City of Windhoek had charged residents and businesses 17,2 per cent more since July 1.An additional ECB levy of N$0,0050 charged by the City has also been criticised by the ECB – it should only be N$0,0045.Justifying the higher levy charge, Sibindi said “within the tariff structure a provision has been made for an increase of the ECB levy of 11 per cent as indicated by the ECB to the bulk supplier”.The City also introduced a levy of one cent for the future Regional Electricity Distributor (RED), which does not yet exist.The City of Windhoek tried to justify this charge by saying the one-cent levy would “cater for the cost to ring-fence the City’s Electricity department”.This was to enhance transparency within the City’s tariff structure, the press statement said.