ECB raps Nored over the knuckles for electrocutions

The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has issued a stern warning to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (Nored) over its failure to fully implement safety measures, following a rise in electrocution incidents.Speaking at a media conference in Ondangwa on Tuesday, ECB CEO Robert Kahimise revealed that an independent investigation into a 2024 fatality involving Nored employees found that the operator had only implemented 70% of required safety directives, leaving 30% unaddressed.“The ECB has been closely monitoring incident trends in the electricity supply industry, and the number of accidents is on the rise. This trend demands immediate intervention from both the regulator and electricity suppliers to ensure safety,” Kahimise said. Kahimise disclosed that over the past four years, 17 people suffered electric-related injuries or fatalities within Nored’s supply area. Of these, seven incidents occurred within Nored’s operations, accounting for 41% of total cases and 63% of fatalities.A recent workplace fatality was reported on 10 March when a Nored employee was electrocuted while working on live low-voltage wires to reconnect a customer. An initial investigation found that the employee was not authorised to work on live wires and had failed to wear protective gear. Post-mortem results are awaited to confirm the cause of death.In another incident on 20 February, two NamWater employees were electrocuted while replacing a winch of a pump cage in wet conditions. Preliminary findings suggest the pump automatically activated, leading to their deaths.Kahimise also highlighted the electrocution of a guest at Siruwo Guest House in Nkurenkuru on 19 February. Investigations revealed that the guest house had an illegal electrical connection, which was likely the cause of death. The establishment has since been shut down until compliance is restored.The ECB has ordered Nored and other electricity suppliers, including Cenored, City of Windhoek, Erongo RED, Kameelboom Power Supply and NamPower, to enforce strict safety measures.Kahimise urged the public to avoid using unlicensed electricians, warning that “cheap labour is very costly” and can result in avoidable tragedies.Nored respondsNored’s acting CEO, Toivo Shovaleka, expressed deep concern over the rising number of electrical accidents and noted that some property owners hire unqualified contractors, leading to dangerous illegal connections.Shovaleka assured the public that Nored is committed to strengthening enforcement of safety codes and will work closely with the police to curb illegal electricity connections."We have also observed a culture of non-compliance with regulatory safety tools, such as the Namibia Electricity Safety Code (NESC), and we are taking steps to address this," Shovaleka said.

ECB raps Nored over the knuckles for electrocutions

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-31

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ECB raps Nored over the knuckles for electrocutions

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-31

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