Power cables 'stored' underground to steal electricity
Bulk rate increased by 8%
Residents who divert power illegally can face huge fines.
Residents who illegally supply power to other homes by manipulating or tampering with power meters extend cables underground with cable joints, thus reaching homes that are typically located 300 to 400 meters away.The diversion of electricity, which involves the illegal manipulation of power meters, allows residents to avoid accurate registration of power consumption.
An elderly resident of Windhoek's Dolam settlement, who prefers to remain anonymous, says he was fined N$18 000 in November last year, after tampering with the power meter. His power was cut off and could only be restored after he removed the illegal connection and paid his bill. He said that he is a pensioner and all his children are unemployed.
"We did this because we are struggling financially. Power is expensive and it is a basic need that we struggle to afford," he said.
The Electricity Control Board (ECB) recently announced its decision to increase the national power supplier's (NamPower) bulk tariff by 8%. The adjustment increases the average rate from the current approved rate of N$1.98 per kWh to N$2.144 per kWh for 2024/2025.
According to City of Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye, the municipality is aware of the financial obstacles that some residents experience. He said that this is being addressed through programmes for power efficiency, initiatives for reducing consumption as well as involving communities in the safe and legal use of electricity.
According to Akwenye, some residents use devices that are not approved to divert power directly and which enable them to use power without it being accurately reflected.
Common methods of rewiring power meters include a direct connection where wires run directly from the main power supply to supply power, thus bypassing the power meter entirely. The other method involves physically altering the meter by breaking the seal and thus tampering with the internal mechanisms.
As a result, the City loses millions of dollars in revenue due to unaccounted power consumption, increased operating costs due to the need for additional resources to detect and investigate illegal activities, as well as pressure on the system due to illegal connections causing overload and infrastructure damage. The latter in turn leads to higher maintenance and repair costs.
According to Akwenye, the municipality has several methods to tackle illegal connections and power diversion. These include regular inspections with scheduled meter readings by trained staff, the implementation of split prepaid power meters designed to pick up irregular consumption patterns and potential diversion, the analysis of consumer data to detect irregularities, as well as the maintenance and upholding of reporting systems that residents encouraged to anonymously report any suspicious activity.
Residents who are guilty of the above illegal activities can be fined which includes the penalty for power theft, as well as the recovery of costs for damage and consumption and the immediate disconnection of electrical services. If the person is guilty, he or she will also have a criminal record.