Renthia Kaimbi
The Erongo Regional Electricity Distributor (Erongo Red) has urged customers to use electricity safely and responsibly.
Erongo Red warns that overloaded plugs, exposed cables, and faulty wiring can lead to serious injuries, fires, and deaths.
The utility recently launched an electricity safety campaign aimed at preventing accidents in homes and communities. The campaign follows an electricity-saving initiative introduced in April to help customers manage monthly expenses and encourage sustainable energy use.
Erongo Red advised customers not to overload plugs and sockets, saying this can cause electrical faults and fires.
The utility also encouraged the public to use quality chargers and appliances and to keep electrical cords away from heat and hot surfaces.
Parents and guardians were urged to ensure children do not insert fingers or objects into electrical sockets, warning that such actions can cause severe injuries or fatal incidents.
The utility further advised residents to report faulty wiring, exposed cables and sparks immediately. Members of the public were also urged to keep a safe distance from power lines.
Erongo Red warned that copper cable theft remains a serious safety risk and called on communities to report such incidents without delay.
The utility said responsible electricity use and awareness of potential dangers can help prevent accidents, protect lives and reduce damage to property.
In a separate development, Erongo Red last Wednesday relaunched its corporate website in partnership with Green Enterprise Solutions, a Namibian ICT company.
The new website replaces the previous platform developed in 2015 and forms part of the utility’s broader digital transformation efforts aimed at improving customer service, access to information and stakeholder engagement.
Speaking at the launch, Erongo Red chief executive officer Immanuel !Hanabeb said the website is more than just a refreshed online platform.
The upgraded website provides easier access to customer support services, electricity tariffs, power interruption updates, public notices, vacancies, procurement opportunities and company information.
Customers can also download the Erongo Red mobile application directly from the platform to access services through their mobile devices.
Among the new features are an AI-powered chatbot that provides 24-hour assistance and interactive electronic forms that allow customers to submit applications and enquiries online.
Green Enterprise Solutions head of project management Bro-Mathew Niikondo said the project demonstrates the value of collaboration between organisations and local ICT experts in developing secure and sustainable digital systems.
The website development process included stakeholder consultations, feedback sessions and user testing to ensure the platform met operational and customer needs.
Erongo Red said the relaunch reflects its continued investment in improving service delivery, communication and digital access while strengthening safe, reliable and sustainable electricity services.
