NARUC - Global Regulatory Network

Profiles

Namibia		Electricity Control Board of Namibia (ECB) • Official website: http://www.ecb.org.na • Established in 2000, with 18 staff members. • Dr. Klaus Dierks is chairman (no-executive), appointed for a period of 4 years by the Minister of Mines & Energy. Four other members comprise the board. • Issuing of licenses to generate, transmit, import, export and distribute/supply electricity, approval of tariffs, rationalization of distribution licensees (from 47 to 5 regional electricity distribution companies), tariff reform, mediation of disputes. • The activities of the ECB are funded by a levy on electricity sales. The levy amounts to approximately 5% of the electricity price that end consumers pay. Electricity Industry and Market Structure • Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower), a vertically integrated monopoly 100% owned by the state. • Generates electricity from 3 power station (total capacity 394 MW), imports/exports from South Africa via 330 and 400 kV inter-connectors, performs the functions of a single buyer. • NamPower holds a monopoly in transmission, import and export. There are 35 distributors, mainly municipalities. Two regional distribution companies are in operation, with another three to be licensed over the next 2 years. Functions of the ECB • Encouraging new investment in generation capacity to meet rising demand nationally and in the Southern Africa region. • Introduction of a competitive wholesale market, most likely in cooperation with our partners in the Southern Africa Power Pool. • Rationalization of the distribution sector through the creation of 5 regional electricity distribution companies. • Meeting the growing demand for electricity and the medium term prospect of Namibia's main import source ESKOM of South Africa running out of excess generating capacity. • Developing of renewable energy, particularly wind power. • Rural electrification, presently only 30% of rural households are connected, compared with 85% of urban households.
Key Statistics (2002) • Population: 1.8 million • GDP (US$): $4.2 billion • Electricity generation: hydro (99%): 1.429 million kWh • Electricity consumption: 2.371 million kWh • Electricity imports: 942 million kWh • Electricity exports: 54 million kWh • Electricity market size: 1.2 million kWh/year • Installed capacity: 994 MW (600 MW from imports) • Electricity prices for households (US$): 12¢ per kWh