Also known as: ECB · Electricity Control Board of Namibia
Electricity Control Board — regulates Namibia's electricity sector, approving tariffs and developing licensing frameworks for utilities and generators.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Electricity Control Board (ECB) will implement new multi-year tariff methodology
“The increase is mainly driven by the utility company's need to align its fixed operational costs with a new multi-year tariff methodology that will be implemented by the Electricity Control Board (ECB).”
NamPower proposes 8.4% tariff increaseInformanté
Electricity Control Board is hosting the 22nd Annual Conference of AFUR
“Tapamo expressed appreciation to the Namibian government and the Electricity Control Board (ECB) for hosting the event, noting that it reflects Namibia's commitment to regional cooperation and infrastructure development.”
AFUR conference in Namibia focuses on tech-driven regulationInformanté
Electricity Control Board issued directive to cease blocking prepaid electricity meters for debt recovery
“The Electricity Control Board (ECB) of Namibia, on 27 June 2024, issued a directive to all local authorities to cease the practice of blocking prepaid electricity meters to recover arrear fees, levies, and charges in respect of rates, taxes, and other municipal services, and to explore alternative debt recovery methods that comply with the relevant legislation.”
City of Windhoek loses court battle to cut electricity over unpaid water bills and other arrearsInformanté
Electricity Control Board will review and approve the tariff application and tariff adjustment
“The ECB will review the tariff application and approve a tariff adjustment.”
NamPower applies for a bulk tariff increase of 8.4% for financial year 2026/27Informanté
ECB has hosted and supported RERA since its establishment through leadership, resources, and administrative support
“During the most challenging times of RERA's transition, the ECB stood out and selflessly supported RERA through the provision of wise leadership, immense resources, and administrative support.”
Regional Energy Regulators Association welcomes new chairpersonNew Era
Electricity Control Board employs a cost-plus tariff methodology.
“Mootu argues Namibia's current cost-plus tariff methodology, employed by the Electricity Control Board (ECB), effectively transfers economic risk from utilities to households.”
Parliament BriefsThe Namibian
Electricity Control Board launched a project to investigate categorisation of generation projects for simplified regulatory licensing
“For this reason, the ECB launched this project to investigate the categorisation of generation projects which could qualify for a simplified regulatory licensing process.”
Remarks by Robert Kahimise at stakeholder workshops on the development of licence conditions for small embedded generators and pilot projectsInformanté
Electricity Control Board hosted workshop on development of licence conditions for small embedded generators
“THE Electricity Control Board (ECB) this week hosted a workshop on the development of licence conditions for small embedded generators and pilot projects.”
Electricity Control Board licence conditions for small projectsInformanté
Electricity Control Board introduced ban on electricity disconnections on Fridays and weekends
“The new regulations prohibit licensees from disconnecting electricity supply to the public without prior notice, while disconnections on Fridays and weekends have been banned under new rules introduced by the Electricity Control Board (ECB).”
Electricity Control Board licence conditions for small projectsNew Era
The Electricity Control Board has launched a new project to develop tailored licence conditions for small, embedded generation projects
“The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has launched a new project to develop tailored licence conditions for small, embedded generation projects of up to 2 megawatts (MW) and pilot initiatives involving emerging technologies, including green hydrogen.”
ECB streamlines licensing for new powerThe Electricity Control Board approved a 3.7% bulk electricity tariff increase for NamPower effective 1 August 2026, raising the average bulk tariff to N$2.14/kWh. Windhoek residents, landlords and small business owners warn the increase will deepen financial pressure on households and businesses already struggling with rising living costs.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Electricity Control Board approved a 3.7% bulk electricity tariff increase for NamPower effective 1 August 2026, raising the average bulk tariff to N$2.14/kWh. Windhoek residents, landlords and small business owners warn the increase will deepen financial pressure on households and businesses already struggling with rising living costs.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Electricity Control Board approved a 3.7% bulk electricity tariff increase for NamPower effective 1 August 2026, raising the average bulk tariff from N$2.06 to N$2.14 per kilowatt-hour. Windhoek residents, landlords, and small business owners say the increase will add to financial pressure as living costs rise, with some landlords warning they may need to raise rents.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibian government allocated N$90 million (N$50 million from the Long Run Marginal Cost Fund and N$40 million from the National Energy Fund) to cushion consumers against higher electricity tariffs. The ECB approved a 3.7% bulk tariff increase from 1 August 2026, down from NamPower's 8.4% application, bringing the average bulk tariff to N$2.14 per kWh from N$2.06 per kWh.
20 July 2026 · Informanté →
Community activists Shaun Gariseb and Sem David have questioned the City of Windhoek's 4% municipal tariff increase, arguing that residents should not pay more while informal settlements lack adequate sanitation, water, and waste services. Gariseb cited Mix Settlement's sanitation and water infrastructure shortages—including only four of six communal water taps functioning for roughly 4,000 residents—as evidence the city should improve service delivery before raising tariffs.
20 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's inflation, which peaked at 4.4% in June, is expected to moderate in the second half of 2026 following fuel price cuts in July. However, economists warn that electricity tariffs, administered price increases, and food costs pose upside risks.
13 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia has received continental recognition for its progress in regulating distributed electricity generation through development and implementation of net metering rules and embedded generation standards. The Electricity Control Board says Namibia was identified as a leading country in the GET.transform Distributed Generation Programme and positioned as a benchmark for other African countries.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
City of Windhoek employees have been suspended pending disciplinary proceedings over accusations of manipulating the municipality's billing system. The municipality declined to disclose the number of suspended staff, citing labour confidentiality, though ratepayers' association says some have been suspended for about two years and has called for release of a Deloitte forensic audit of the billing system.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Community activists demand the government repair collapsing water and sewer networks in underserved neighbourhoods before implementing prepaid metering. The minister of urban and rural development has acknowledged that bulk infrastructure, especially sewer reticulation, is aging under population pressure, and said the ministry is engaging local authorities to prioritize upgrades while prepaid metering implementation is underway in nine towns.
15 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia Power Corporation has asked the Electricity Control Board to intervene in efforts to recover N$1 billion owed by local state entities and Angola's power utility for electricity. NamPower says 14 local authorities have breached repayment arrangements totalling about N$635.3 million, and prolonged non-payment could undermine the security of the country's electricity supply.
12 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Recent oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin, with an over 80% exploration success rate, position Namibia to avoid reliance on imported fuel and build local refining capacity—a lesson highlighted by recent fuel price shocks tied to Middle Eastern conflicts.
5 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The African Development Bank's Electricity Regulatory Index measures how effectively African countries regulate their electricity sectors across governance, regulatory substance, and outcomes. In the 2022 ERI report, Namibia achieved a score of 0.618, placing 13th out of 43 African countries, emerging as one of Africa's most promising regulatory success stories.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
University of Namibia student Magdalena Ndivayele, who runs a cuca shop at Groot Aub settlement 56 kilometres south of Windhoek, installed a solar system after the City of Windhoek failed to connect the area to the national grid despite repeated promises. The solar installation has improved safety in her section and attracted more customers to her shop.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia Power Corporation has successfully listed a N$5 billion Domestic Medium-Term Note Programme on the Namibia Securities Exchange, enabling the utility to raise funding through various debt instruments aligned with strategic projects and sustainability goals. The listing follows a two-year preparation process and provides NamPower with flexible, cost-effective access to capital markets while supporting Namibia's energy sector expansion.
19 April 2026 · Informanté →
Namibian Cabinet approved development of a commercial cattle feedlot and livestock value chain hub at Farm Kehoro under a 25-year lease, reserved the Okoutjete Gold occurrence in Kunene from mining operations, and ordered a technical assessment of Northern Regional Electricity Distributor's infrastructure needs following recent industrial action.
14 April 2026 · New Era →
The Electricity Control Board is establishing new regulations requiring utilities to justify tariffs against actual costs, with a framework designed to incentivise efficiency while keeping prices affordable and predictable over multi-year periods. NamPower has proposed an 8.4% bulk tariff increase, though consumer analysts warn that such increases could burden low-income households already struggling with inflation.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Power Corporation has applied to the Electricity Control Board to increase electricity tariffs by 8.4%, driven by the need to align fixed operational costs with a new cost-reflective tariff methodology and increased imported electricity and fuel prices. If approved, the average bulk tariff will rise from 206.11 c/kWh to 223.40 c/kWh.
27 March 2026 · The Namibian →
At the opening of the 22nd African Forum for Utility Regulators conference in Swakopmund, Industries Minister Modestus Amutse called on Africa to ensure innovation in energy, water, communications and transport expands access for all rather than widening inequalities. He highlighted Namibia's renewable energy potential, including emerging leadership in green hydrogen, and commitments to inclusive economic growth and regulatory frameworks that attract investment while guaranteeing affordable services.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia is hosting the 22nd Annual Conference of the African Forum for Utility Regulators in Swakopmund from 22–27 March, bringing together regulators from across the continent to explore how innovative technologies can improve access to essential services in energy, water, transport, and other sectors. The conference theme is "Innovative Technologies for Inclusive and Resilient Utility Regulation," with delegates discussing artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital transformation.
25 March 2026 · Informanté →
The High Court dismissed the City of Windhoek's bid to cut off electricity to customers in arrears on water and other municipal fees, upholding an Electricity Control Board directive prohibiting the practice. Judge Andrew Corbett ruled that while regulations permit suspension for unpaid electricity accounts, they do not allow blockage of prepaid meters for failure to pay other municipal charges, and that Electricity Act provisions prevail over local authority rules.
24 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse said Namibia can achieve 80% national electricity connectivity in four years with sustained effort, up from the current 47–56% rate. The government aims for 70% connectivity by 2030, and Amutse urged stakeholders and the Electricity Control Board to ensure that licenced power generators deliver on their commitments rather than merely hold inactive licences.
17 March 2026 · The Namibian →
NamPower is struggling to recover about N$700 million in electricity bills overdue for more than 90 days, with the rising debt threatening the utility's ability to pay suppliers and cover operational costs. The company has requested an 8.4% tariff increase to help cover rising costs, though it says the true cost-reflective increase would be 30.4%.
16 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Power Corporation has submitted a bulk tariff application of 8.4%, raising the average tariff from 206.11 c/kWh to 223.40 c/kWh. The Electricity Control Board noted that while cost-reflectivity would require a 30.4% increase, NamPower has opted for a measured approach to balance tariff cost-reflectivity with affordability.
15 March 2026 · Informanté →
The electricity utility NamPower has proposed an 8.4% tariff increase to the Electricity Control Board for the 2026/2027 financial year, citing the burden of non-paying customers, the need for capital investment, and new infrastructure. The ECB will receive stakeholder input before making a final determination on the proposed hike.
12 March 2026 · New Era →
The Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa has elected Dr. Paulo António da Graça, Executive Chairman of Mozambique's Energy Regulatory Authority, as its new Chairperson. RERA, established in 2002 and hosted in Windhoek, works to strengthen regional cooperation on energy regulation, renewable energy integration, and grid modernisation across Southern Africa.
5 March 2026 · Informanté →
The finance ministry plans to reduce subsidies and capital transfers to state-owned enterprises from N$1.3 billion in 2025/26 to N$615.7 million in 2026/27, citing fiscal consolidation and high public debt. Several SOEs including TransNamib and the Agricultural Bank of Namibia will receive no government transfers, while priority support goes to the National Housing Enterprise and Road Fund Administration.
3 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Several Namibian lawmakers have given notice of parliamentary questions on pressing national issues: judicial understaffing and magistrate workload; the country's grey listing status and oil sector regulatory violations; support needed for dairy and poultry sectors amid production gains; drug use and rehabilitation services in schools; and electricity tariff methodology and consumer protection measures.
18 February 2026 · New Era →
The Electricity Control Board launched a project to develop simplified regulatory licensing conditions for small embedded generators and pilot projects, aiming to reduce entry barriers while maintaining system reliability and consumer protection. ECB chief Robert Kahimise outlined the framework during a stakeholder workshop, emphasizing the balance between enabling orderly growth and ensuring accountability in Namibia's electricity supply industry.
17 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Electricity Control Board hosted a workshop to develop licence conditions for small embedded generators and pilot projects, with the aim of reducing regulatory barriers to entry while maintaining system reliability and consumer protection. New regulations also require utilities to provide at least 24 hours' notice before disconnecting supply and prohibit weekend and Friday disconnections.
13 February 2026 · Informanté →
The Electricity Control Board has launched a project to develop simplified licence conditions for small embedded generation projects up to 2 megawatts and pilot schemes involving emerging technologies like green hydrogen, aiming to reduce regulatory barriers while maintaining compliance and system stability.
12 February 2026 · New Era →
The 19.3 MWp Gerus Solar One Project, located between Otjiwarongo and Otavi, was officially inaugurated by the British High Commissioner. The plant, developed by Solarcentury Africa in partnership with Sino Energy, will sell electricity directly into the Southern African Power Pool, contributing to Namibia's renewable energy capacity and regional power trade.
10 February 2026 · Informanté →