According to the Electricity Control Board (ECB), the current National Connection Charge Policy (NCCP) is not legally binding.

This is why the ECB is hosting a stakeholder workshop to discuss the first draft of a transition from the NCCP to a legally binding National Connection Charge Code (NCCC).

The half-day workshop, which is currently underway in Windhoek, is attended by various electricity stakeholders.

The NCCP was established in 2014 with the aim of standardizing the approach to managing electricity network connections and associated charges.

However, the ECB has noted that not all entities have aligned their policies with national standards, leading to misunderstandings.

To address this issue, the Senior Financial Analyst and Project Manager at the ECB stated that they have decided to establish the NCCC, which will ensure enforceability and legal binding for all parties involved.

Tonateni Amakutuwa explained that this initiative will standardize connection charges, promote fairness and uniformity for both customers and licensees, and align with broader national policies and industry standards.

Additionally, it will enable the ECB to oversee the sector more effectively, ensuring that the interests of both customers and licensees are balanced while allowing some flexibility in payment terms.

The ECB aims to have the final NCCC document in place by the end of November this year.