GRTU seeks EU backing over energy directive

The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise, GRTU, has written to the European Commission accusing the government of failing to comply with the EU Energy Directive.

In a letter to the Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, the GRTU maintained that the Malta Resources Authority (MRA) did not fulfil its responsibilities to ensure non-discrimination, effective competition, efficient functioning of the market and a high level of transparency.

The letter was in answer to Commissioner Andris Piebalgs' request for more details on the issue.

The GRTU wrote to the EU Commission some months back expressing concern at what it termed as the lack of transparency by Enemalta in the formulation of the proposed new electricity tariffs and its fuel purchasing policies.

The GRTU had requested a "cease and desist order" against the imposition of new electricity tariffs and any other energy charges until the authorities fully abide by their "responsibilities" under EU directives.

In its latest letter, bearing yesterday's date, the GRTU said the MRA and the Resources Minister acted against the directive when they "simply endorsed the tariffs calculated by the monopoly utility, in retrospect and without investigation and analysis resulting in their unfair and discriminate application on consumer groups, affecting SMEs very negatively".

The Times sought a comment from the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry yesterday morning but no reply was forthcoming at the time of writing.