EDITORIAL: City, ECB battle it out in court
The fight between the Electricity Control Board (ECB) and the City of Windhoek could spiral out of control if not handled properly.
As the regulator, ECB has oversight powers on the work of local authorities and regional councils when it comes to domestic electricity affairs.
While the country’s biggest municipality is arguing that the ECB’s directive prohibiting municipalities from disconnecting prepaid electricity meters to recover other municipality debts, such as rates and taxes, as well as water supply, could collapse its finances going forward, we cannot afford an electricity regime where municipalities operate on a self-regulation basis.
The rules must be applied across the board, regardless of the concerns raised.
When local authorities introduced a prepaid electricity metering system, they should have thought about the potential consequences such a change would bring. However, it seems they only had their sights fixed on the money they were going to make.
The municipality also claims that disconnecting prepaid electricity meters is the best way to force residents to honour their outstanding municipal bills. One wonders whether this is not an abuse of power by the City. What protection do residents have against local authorities who implement revenue policies at their own behest?
It is therefore important that we prioritise consumer protection just as we prioritise revenue generation.
As the regulator, ECB has oversight powers on the work of local authorities and regional councils when it comes to domestic electricity affairs.
While the country’s biggest municipality is arguing that the ECB’s directive prohibiting municipalities from disconnecting prepaid electricity meters to recover other municipality debts, such as rates and taxes, as well as water supply, could collapse its finances going forward, we cannot afford an electricity regime where municipalities operate on a self-regulation basis.
The rules must be applied across the board, regardless of the concerns raised.
When local authorities introduced a prepaid electricity metering system, they should have thought about the potential consequences such a change would bring. However, it seems they only had their sights fixed on the money they were going to make.
The municipality also claims that disconnecting prepaid electricity meters is the best way to force residents to honour their outstanding municipal bills. One wonders whether this is not an abuse of power by the City. What protection do residents have against local authorities who implement revenue policies at their own behest?
It is therefore important that we prioritise consumer protection just as we prioritise revenue generation.
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