The City of Windhoek (CoW) has announced an 8.6 per cent increase in electricity tariffs, effective from 01 August this year.

The municipality in a public notice on Wednesday informed electricity users in Windhoek of the electricity hike following approval from the Electricity Control Board (ECB).

“For the City to be a smart and caring city, it is necessary to foster social and economic development through affordable electricity tariffs, being cognisant of the fact that electricity is an essential commodity. City of Windhoek will remain committed to ensure secure, reliable and high quality of electricity supply to the residence of Windhoek,” the notice reads.

CoW spokesperson Lydia Amutenya told Nampa on Thursday that the local authority initially requested a 9.6 per cent tariff adjustment from the ECB, but approval was granted for 8.6 per cent only.

She went on to say that the reason for the tariff adjustment is that CoW’s bulk electricity service provider raised their tariffs, so the CoW had to adjust its electricity tariffs to be cost reflective.

“Aside from being a legislative necessity, the distribution of energy to our clients also necessitates proper electricity infrastructure that must be maintained on a regular basis to ensure reliability and a secure supply,” she explained.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency