Expect power cuts - Nored
Despite a lower number of power outages experienced in northern Namibia over the festive season, electricity interruptions have been a weekly occurrence in the regions. Businesses and other stakeholders are calling on the northern power utility Nored, to urgently address the issue.
With the rainy season still in its early stages, it is expected that power outages will continue to occur, and possibly increase, as bad weather conditions are one of the factors which can lead to unexpected power failures.
Business people who spoke to Namibian Sun said they were making losses due to the lack of power, which in some cases, lasts for more than 12 hours. They placed the blame squarely on the northern electricity utility, the Northern Regions Electricity Distribution Company (Nored).
“When the power goes off for hours, our businesses are heavily affected because our products in fridges get spoilt and I am forced to throw them away. This is a loss to both my company and my customers. In some cases we are not able to communicate effectively and therefore, we are unable to plan or order products in time,” Petrus Nambinga, a businessman from Oshikuku said.
Nambinga further argued that power outages are mostly planned during the weekends which are the days when business is better.
Before the start of the festive season, towards the end of 2017, planned power outages were a weekly occurrence especially in the towns of Oshakati, Oshikuku, Ongwediva and Ondangwa, where power would be off from the early morning hours and would only be restored late in the evenings.
However, Nored's spokesperson, Simon Lukas, explained the issue surrounding the power outages saying that the company does not “wish” to cut off power but it only does so when they have to add new customers onto the grid or if an emergency situation is experienced.
Lukas said that the main driver of these outages is the aged infrastructure, especially the wooden poles, and the transformers that require replacement and upgrading. He added that Nored has invested in grid modernisation with the view to reduce and minimise the number of interruptions.
Lukas also said Nored, being in the distribution industry, knows and understands the effects of power outages on its stakeholders saying that electricity is the driver of economic development and has since become an essential service to individuals and the business community.
“In the electricity supply industry, it is natural to receive complaints, however, power outages occur so that Nored can fulfil its complete mandate which includes grid extension and the maintenance of infrastructure. Sometimes outages are planned or are due to an emergency,” Lukas said.
“Nored therefore tries to ensure minimum interruptions to customers and to effectively perform its duties with due diligence in the shortest possible time, thereby reducing the impact of these outages,” Lukas further explained.
KENYA KAMBOWE
With the rainy season still in its early stages, it is expected that power outages will continue to occur, and possibly increase, as bad weather conditions are one of the factors which can lead to unexpected power failures.
Business people who spoke to Namibian Sun said they were making losses due to the lack of power, which in some cases, lasts for more than 12 hours. They placed the blame squarely on the northern electricity utility, the Northern Regions Electricity Distribution Company (Nored).
“When the power goes off for hours, our businesses are heavily affected because our products in fridges get spoilt and I am forced to throw them away. This is a loss to both my company and my customers. In some cases we are not able to communicate effectively and therefore, we are unable to plan or order products in time,” Petrus Nambinga, a businessman from Oshikuku said.
Nambinga further argued that power outages are mostly planned during the weekends which are the days when business is better.
Before the start of the festive season, towards the end of 2017, planned power outages were a weekly occurrence especially in the towns of Oshakati, Oshikuku, Ongwediva and Ondangwa, where power would be off from the early morning hours and would only be restored late in the evenings.
However, Nored's spokesperson, Simon Lukas, explained the issue surrounding the power outages saying that the company does not “wish” to cut off power but it only does so when they have to add new customers onto the grid or if an emergency situation is experienced.
Lukas said that the main driver of these outages is the aged infrastructure, especially the wooden poles, and the transformers that require replacement and upgrading. He added that Nored has invested in grid modernisation with the view to reduce and minimise the number of interruptions.
Lukas also said Nored, being in the distribution industry, knows and understands the effects of power outages on its stakeholders saying that electricity is the driver of economic development and has since become an essential service to individuals and the business community.
“In the electricity supply industry, it is natural to receive complaints, however, power outages occur so that Nored can fulfil its complete mandate which includes grid extension and the maintenance of infrastructure. Sometimes outages are planned or are due to an emergency,” Lukas said.
“Nored therefore tries to ensure minimum interruptions to customers and to effectively perform its duties with due diligence in the shortest possible time, thereby reducing the impact of these outages,” Lukas further explained.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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