Justicia Shipena
Residents in Windhoek may face up to a 3% increase in electricity costs this year if the Electricity Control Board (ECB) approves the City of Windhoek’s proposed tariff adjustment.
The municipality proposed the increase during a public consultation held on Friday at the Khomas Regional Council Hall. The session was organised by the ECB.
The City, which supplies electricity in the Khomas Region, wants a 4% weighted average increase for the 2025/2026 financial year. It says this aligns with NamPower’s approved average bulk tariff increase of 3.8%.
Last month, the ECB approved NamPower’s 3.8% tariff increase, which takes effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
According to the municipality, electricity costs would rise by 3% for regular residential customers and 1% for pensioners. Officials said the increase is lower than NamPower’s hike.
They cited NamPower’s tariffs, staff shortages due to Windhoek’s population growth of over 67% since 2011, and rising maintenance costs as the main reasons behind the proposal.
The City said the consultation was meant to inform residents and business owners, ensure transparency, and create a space for open dialogue between stakeholders in the electricity sector.
It also said it remains committed to keeping prices affordable while maintaining service quality in the growing capital.
The municipality maintains that Windhoek still has some of the lowest electricity tariffs in the country.
Windhoek residents currently get the best value for prepaid electricity in Namibia, according to April reports.
Reports from April this year showed that the Windhoek Municipality offers the lowest prepaid tariff in the country at N$2.4772 per kilowatt-hour. For every N$100 spent, residents receive about 40 units of electricity.
A comparison report on tariffs approved by the Electricity Control Board for the 2024/25 financial year shows clear differences in purchasing power across regions, depending on the local electricity provider.
Katutura residents committee spokesperson Shaun Gariseb accused the City of using a “classical tactic” to keep residents uninformed.
“The City knew if they had notified the public they would go and oppose their application. So they just come tell you after having already done the consultation. Our biggest question now was the consultation in conjunction with ECB? How can ECB collaborate with C.o.W who undermined their authority?” He questioned.
Last year, the City proposed a 10.4% electricity tariff increase for the 2024/25 financial year. That plan received major backlash from residents. The ECB later granted a lower increase of 7.9% in June 2024, down from the City’s request.
