City to monitor pre-paid electricity vendors
The City of Windhoek has said it will monitor the performance of the eight vendors awarded tenders to provide prepaid electricity services to residents during the pilot period of six months – before allocating three-year contracts to vendors.
An official from the office of the chief executive officer of the municipality, Niilo Taapopi told the Economist that throughout the six month pilot period, the City will monitor how the contracted vendors run operations, after which “if we are satisfied, the City will go back to our local tender board and appoint them,” said the official.
She said after the six months, the local tender board will then further seek directives that will determine if they (vendors) are eligible to be granted the chance to continue with the contract for the three year undersigned period.
The City of Windhoek recently awarded the tender for selling prepaid electricity to eight vendors as part of ongoing efforts to improve electricity supply to residents.
Mayor of the City of Windhoek, Elaine Trepper, said that the decision to award the tender to multiple vendors is to create efficiency and convenience for the municipality’s end clients.
The vendors, who resumed business on 1 March 2012 include NAMPOST, Tusk Investment, Startlite Wholesale Pre-paid, East End Service Centre, RPH Fuel Services, Subway Service Station, Klingenberg Fuel Centre, Katutura Service Station and Academia Service Station.
The latest development comes after the municipality’s temporary contract with Mobicash Payment Solutions (Mobipay) ended on 29 February.
In July 2011, the City of Windhoek terminated the service of prepaid electricity contractor Namibia Electronic payment. “To ensure the continuity of this service, council had to make an urgent arrangement, through a six month agreement entered into with MobiPay,” Trepper said.
Trepper added that the City has not only increased the number of contractors, but also increased the number of points from where prepaid electricity can be bought.
