NamPower will waive all interest on outstanding debt accumulated over the past twelve months, provided that customers settle outstanding amounts before the end of this month.

Customers owe the power utility over a billion dollars, with N$842 million overdue.

"NamPower went further and offered to waive interest charges on overdue accounts settled within a 12-month period, as well as to increase the payment terms of all customers from 14 days to 20 days from the date of invoice. With the re-introduction of the debt collection plan, we are offering the same again and, in addition, an incentive to write off the interest portion of the outstanding debt accumulated over the preceding 12 months to customers who settle their outstanding amount in full," NamPower MD Kahenge Haulofu said.

Last week, the state-owned enterprise said it would disconnect the electricity supply to all defaulting customers in stages starting on June 5.

NORED, the ||Kharas Regional Council and 18 local authorities are scheduled to have their electricity supply suspended if they fail to pay up by the end of May.

Michael Gotore, the Chief Financial Officer at the power utility, explained that "23% of debt is NORED, 10% is Rehoboth, 9% is the City of Windhoek, and Erongo Red is 5.6%. That gives you an idea of how it is divided. Our biggest customer is the City of Windhoek; that's where the bulk of our electricity is consumed."

The state-owned enterprise says it has done all it can to get what is due; therefore, disconnecting the power supply is the last resort.

"The reason why we are collecting money owed to us is not that we are broke or find ourselves in dire straits; it's because we are owed that money and we want to put it back in the business."