Free power for debt-free Oshakati explains free electricity misunderstanding The Oshakati Town Council says that only those without outstanding basic service fees will benefit from the free electricity installation project recently launched. The agreement between the Oshakati Premier Electric (OPE) and the council is that the electricity supplier will direct half of its dividends for two years to council which amounts to N$7 million towards the project which will electrify about 1 120 households for free.It costs N$6 000 for OPE to electrify a single household but under the two-year initiative households in informal settlements that are not yet connected to the grid will receive free electrification.
Meanwhile, the misunderstanding came about after members of the community were invited to apply and they did not understand why they had to pay amounts of up to N$2 000 to council for their applications to be approved after it was announced by the Oshakati Mayor, Katrina Shimbulu that the electrification boxes in their households will be for free.
“They invited us to apply for free electricity and just to be told that your form cannot be processed as you had to pay an amount. I thought the electrification was for free,” a concerned resident said.
However according to Oshakati spokesperson, Katarina Kamari, only those with outstanding municipal debts were informed that they have to settle their debts before their applications for free electrification will be approved while those with up-to-date accounts will get free electricity boxes installed by OPE.
Kamari added that the municipal debts date back to 2014 when the council informed members of the community living in various informal settlements that they will start paying for services rendered to them.
She said people that owe council about N$2 003.95 are those residents who opted not to pay the monthly service fee which was N$51.45 per month in 2014 and which currently stands at N$58.90.
“Only those that owe municipal basic services fees are requested to pay their debts in order for their applications to be approved,” Kamari said.
At the launch of the initiative earlier this month it was said the first phase will only see 600 households being electrified while the second phase will commence during the 2017/18 financial year.
KENYA KAMBOWE