The GRTU Chamber for Small Businesses this afternoon proposed measures to mitigate an increase in power tariffs and said tariffs should be multi-tiered.

Chamber officials at a press conference insisted that the government needs to keep in mind that consumers in Malta have no choice of provider.

Director-General Vince Farrugia criticised the tariffs proposed by the government last week saying that consumers would have to pay more to compensate for Enemalta's administrative and technical inefficiency. He said the tariffs were too high.

With regard to domestic tariffs, the GRTU said there should be two tariffs. The first would be a guaranteed price option for a minimal of 365 days. This would enable consumers to plan at least for a calendar year.

The second was an Alternative Multi-tier Option with the introduction of Peak hour Use, Intermediate and Off Peak metering.

The GRTU said there should be the introduction of electronic payments against a discounted facility.

There should also be rebates on installation of solar heaters and photovoltaic panels, with rebates covering minimally 70% of outlayed capital. Rebate to be given 50% through billing structure over 365 days and 50% in payment.

The GRTU said there should be a threshold for households depending on the

individuals in the home. Such tariffs should be structured to conserve energy use. It needed to be ensured that the use of electricity in units did not surpass a basis year 2005.

The chamber also called for home energy audits and the introduction by Enemalta of a loyalty card for those who use less than their established benchmark. The loyalty card would include a point structure that could be utilized by the end user for purchases from “Enemalta Major Partners” The chamber said mitigation initiatives could also be taken for industry, hotels, business and non-residential clients. It said such clients should be benchmarked at 2005 levels and energy audits made.

A rebate mechanism of up to a maximum of 70% on installations of Photovoltaics and also solar energy should be introduced. Other renewable energy sources to be considered according to the related sector.

The GRTU said MEPA should undertake that all buildings over 1000sq metres are to meet the Energy Efficiency in Buildings Directive and be energy sufficient in their needs. This would mean having providers to the grid instead of the other way round.

The chamber said there was no doubt that the removal of capping on the current surcharge would impact those companies which were . It said such companies should benefit from immediate energy audits so that recommendations on saving energy could be made to them before the end of the year.

Enemalta should also enter into agreements with alternative energy suppliers which would include price structures for products to be made available to the non-residential sector at preferred rates.

Enemalta should also offer a standard choice rate of tariffs and a multi-tier choice of tariffs to the non-residential sector. Benchmarks should be based on 2005 annual consumption.