KEETMANSHOOP – Keetmanshoop mayor McDonald Hanse has urged pensioners at the southern town to register for the social electricity tariff.
The tariff aims to reduce electricity cost for pensioners as they will be buying the first 50 electricity units at N$1.71, compared to N$2.18 paid by the residents at the town. After the 50 units, pensioners will pay N$2.65, compared to the N$2.70 paid by the rest of the public.

In an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, Hanse said the municipality is targeting the registration of at least 2 000 pensioners to benefit from the social tariff, and it has thus far registered 150 pensioners.

In June this year, the municipality proposed to the Electricity Control Board (ECB) that the social tariffs be capped at 40 Amps from 15 Amps, enabling pensioners to participate in a tariff that will allow them to purchase electricity at a more affordable rate, thereby enhancing their quality of life.

“I am pleased to say that for the 2024/2025 financial year, there will be no increase in electricity tariffs. This is exciting news for the community, considering the economic challenges some find themselves in. Moreover, the ECB has approved our social tariffs to be capped at 40 Amps. We encourage our pensioners to apply for this tariff to ensure they benefit from an initiative that is created for them,” Hanse stressed.

Pensioners can register at the Keetmanshoop Electricity Business Unit with their identification documents and title deeds.

“We also want to urge the children or community leaders who know of a pensioner or pensioners who are not able to come to our office to let us know, perhaps we can go to their houses and register them,” said the mayor.
Hanse said the municipality is also looking at ways pensioners who do not own houses can also benefit from the social tariff in the future.

-Nampa