The Electricity Control Board (ECB) and Oshakati Premier Electric (OPE) had a public meeting at Oshakati today where they were consulting the public on OPE’s latest application to have its electricity tariffs increased by 4,19%.
Close to 20 people were in attendance, most of whom were employees of either ECB or OPE, and two Oshana regional councillors Mr Joseph Mupetami of Okatjali Constituency and Mr Andreas Amundjindi of Uukwiyuushona Constituency.
Mr Bennodictus Sheehama, the finance and corporate services manager at OPE made a presentation in which he stated that OPE was asking for a tariff increase of 4,19%.
The increase is necessitated by the recent increase of electricity tariffs by NamPower, who supplies power to OPE, who then supplies the power to the town of Oshakati and surrounding villages.
NamPower’s tariff was increased by 3,8%.
Sheehama said that in order for OPE not to make a loss on its operations during the financial year 2025/2026, it needs to increase its charges by 4,19%.
The request was put to ECB, who is the regulator of electricity charges in the country, for it to be approved by 1 July 2025.
Speaking at the meeting a resident of Oshakati, Mrs Ndilimeke Mavulu said that she was disappointed by the cost of living in Oshakati which has become unaffordable.
“The situation is caused by the high electricity charges and other factors caused by poverty,” she said.
“Where are we going to live? Should we go into exile or what ,since we can no longer afford living in our own country where we were born?”
Also speaking at the meeting, Uukwiyuushona Councillor Mr Andreas Amundjindi said that the community is fed up with the ever increasing electricity charges to such an extent that electricity has become unaffordable.
Amundjindi blamed this costly electricity to the high salaries of executives of parastatals, including the ECB.
“I am calling for a law to regulate the salaries of executives of parastatals, perhaps this way the electricity and other services provided by parastatals will become affordable.”
The ECB will consider OPE’s application and consider all inputs and concerns raised at the meeting before making public its decision whether to approve the requested increase or not on 1 July 2025.
In the photo: The ECB and OPE community meeting taking place at Oshandira Lodge.
