Southern settlements avoid blackout

Following an announcement by NamPower that it planned to cut electricity supply to almost 50 towns, villages and settlements because of unpaid electricity bills amounting to N$42.5 million, various accounts were settled by the //Karas Regional Council.Last week, NamPower informed Namibian Sun that it had been in contact with the affected parties to settle their outstanding accounts but the exercise did not yield positive results.Electricity bills of settlements in the //Karas Region listed as defaulters were cleared, //Karas acting chief regional officer Elizabeth Coetzee said on Friday.The //Karas Regional Council is responsible for the payment of bulk services of approximate 24 settlements in the region.Coetzee said the council last week paid N$800 000 to the national power utility, clearing debt that had accumulated for three months. The settlements include Noordoewer, Ariamsvlei, Vaalgras, Kosis, Blouwes, Wortel, Warmbad, Gainachas and Aus.The //Karas villages listed in the NamPower notice - Tses, Berseba, Bethanie and Koës - are responsible for their own debt.Coetzee made it clear that the council would not be able to assist the villages because of its own budget cuts.The chief executive officers for Berseba, Charles Vries; Koës, Willie Humphries; Bethanie, Frans Windstaan (acting); and Tses, Fritz Christiaan, all told Nampa they were scrambling to find solutions.Berseba owes N$168 000, while NamPower is demanding an immediate payment of N$91 000. “I inherited part of this debt when I took over at Berseba last October and we are trying our best to find means to prevent an electricity blackout,” Vries said.Windstaan and Humphries declined to reveal figures owed to NamPower by Bethanie and Koës. Christiaan, who took over reins at the village council last October, said it would be impossible for the village to pay NamPower.He said there was nothing they could do. “We owe NamPower N$1.6 million and they are demanding N$1.5 million, which we are in absolutely no position to pay.” Christiaan said he had communicated this predicament to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.“We receive an annual subsidy of N$800 000 from the ministry, which is simply not enough to cover operational expenses and pay bulk suppliers.” Their only other income is limited funds they receive from the community for water and electricity.He said the village also did not receive its subsidy payments from November last year. He said he was negotiating a payment plan with NamWater to settle arrears. “We might get N$150 000 from the ministry soon and these funds will go to the payment of water,” Christiaan said.He said the only solution would be for the relevant parties to get together and discuss the financial difficulties.“We, NamPower and the government have cash-flow problems. We all have to sit down and talk on the best ways of alleviating the frustrations of our communities,” Christiaan said.NamPower last week announced it would cut off electricity supply to a number of towns, villages and settlements in the Khomas, Hardap and //Karas regions on 8 February if the authorities failed to pay.The authorities owe NamPower over N$45 million.NAMPA

Southern settlements avoid blackout

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-11

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Southern settlements avoid blackout

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-11

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