UNITED KINGDOM – Energy supplier Npower has announced it will raise its energy prices a further 2.7% to mark the memory of Nelson Mandela time in prison.
The company already increased prices by 10.4% this year, in honour of the company’s favourite number 10.4, but said it couldn’t miss the opportunity to pay their respects to the great leader and visionary.
The death of Mandela will likely see similar price hikes within the industry. British Gas are currently considering increasing energy prices by 5% to commemorate the five years Mandela spent as president of South Africa.
Warm memories
Npower’s decision was inspired by the 27 years Mandela spent imprisoned on Robben Island. The company announced it expected customers to follow Mandela’s example by spending more time in cold dark rooms due to their inability to keep the heating on.
Paul Massara, chief executive of Npower, spoke tearfully about the former South African president as he confirmed the additional price increase would come into effect “as soon as legally possible”.
It comes on the back of a universal and moving outpouring from the international community and sees Npower react to the occasion “in the only way we know how”.
Massara said it was a remarkable time “and we want to mark his passing in a way that our customers would remember every time they received a bill”.
‘For Nelson Mandela’
Moving to calm customers angry with a second price rise in month, the Npower chief assured “this was not a decision that we have taken lightly,” and explained that due to the deep emotions felt over the passing Madiba, Npower needed a way to “pass that memory” onto its customers.
“Nelson Mandela was a man who never gave up on his dream for racial equality and became leader who fought for those ideals with grace and dignity despite spending so long in prison for those ideals.”
“And this latest rise in prices will make sure our customers feel every one of those 27 years.”
Massara was confident that with higher prices bill payers would remember where they were when a “bright light went out”, probably in their kitchen as they decide to cook in the dark to save some money.
British Prime Minister David Cameron backed the move a fitting tribute before adding: “it’s not like I could have done anything to stop them anyway.”
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