Prudent power use

Paul Sammut (August 19) was amazed at a simple warning issued by Enemalta on August 14 for people to be prudent in utilising the electricity supply.

Was Mr Sammut not at all amazed at the power supply cuts in various countries in Europe without warning? Was he not amazed at the blackout in the United States and Canada for 39 hours without warning? Or are we boasting that we are the superpower in this age? Why do we not say that not even the government in the beginning of the 1990s envisaged that we were to have it so good within a decade?

Some statistics compared how many households had air conditioners, electric heaters, fridges and freezers, more than one TV set, computers, mobiles to charge everyday, etc, in the beginning of the 1990s and today. Mr Sammut reminded the chairman of Enemalta that it is unacceptable that he cannot switch on his air conditioner when he wants to because he pays the bills and meter rent.

Wrong Mr Sammut! You are paying only a small fraction of the cost of your electricity and water consumption. I would like to remind Mr Sammut that electricity and water are heavily subsidised. If the government decides to reduce drastically the subsidy on electricity and water as happened in 1997/98, Mr Sammut will learn to use these utilities with prudence without the necessity of having to be warned.