GRTU to challenge tariffs in court, Brussels

The Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises-GRTU, plans to fight the utility tariffs on every front - with the regulator, Maltese and European courts and the European Commission.

Irrespective of its planned meeting with the Prime Minister, scheduled for the first half of next week, the chamber will be persisting in its intention to challenge the tariffs.

GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said the chamber had already presented its case to the Malta Resources Authority but its power was limited due to the "peculiarities of the law". The next step would be the courts.

The chamber will be fighting the legal battle on two points: first, the tariffs could not be backdated to October 1, because such a stance was prohibited under consumer laws; and second, on the basis that, in the light of decreasing global oil prices Enemalta, a monopoly, could not charge those prices.

In a circular issued before the Prime Minister informed the chamber he had accepted its request for a meeting, the GRTU announced its intentions to challenge the tariffs: "The GRTU believes that the imposition of these charges is illicit."

The chamber confirmed it will be directing its members not to pay the full new electricity bills based on the tariffs announced by the government.

Following meetings of the MCESD last month, GRTU officials warned they may order their members not to pay that part of their bills which Enemalta will use to fund the capping of bills for large enterprises.