Chamber backs war on electricity theft

The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise fully backs Enemalta's pledge to wage war against electricity theft, the chamber said in a statement.

"We must no longer tolerate the situation where law-abiding citizens and companies are made to pay for the dishonesty of others," chamber president Victor A. Galea said.

An estimated 12-14 per cent of electricity generated is being stolen - an annual loss of Lm7 million to Lm9 million for Enemalta, Investments Minister Austin Gatt had stated on Wednesday. Mr Galea said the chamber could not tolerate abusive practices. It deems the legal measures taken in this regard as a worthy deterrent against electricity theft.

The investment in digital meters is expected to reduce this illegal practice even further.

Once these measures start giving the desired results and electricity theft is reduced considerably, the chamber expects a downward revision in electricity bills.

"This will serve as the final step in ensuring an equitable burden of the cost of water and electricity generation across the entire population," he said.