GRTU seeks 40% cut in power bills for SMEs
The GRTU has called for a one-time cut of 40% in the power bills of SMEs covering the period from last October to the first revision of the tariffs.
Chamber spokesman Joe Attard told a press conference this morning that the GRTU was asking for the reduction for non-residential accounts for consumers who used less than 1.2 million kw/h per year.
He also insisted that SMEs should not be charged peak rates during non-peak times.
The GRTU, Mr Attard said, was also renewing its opposition to cross subsidisation, which was seeing SMEs pay more so that large enterprises could having a capping on their bills. The market, he said, should function efficiently and with a high level of transparency.
Enemalta, he said, should not make losses, but it should benchmark its operations and allow a longer recovery period on its capital outlay.
The press conference was held just hours before Parliament debates the power tariffs this evening.
In a separate development, the UHM said it had written to Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt asking him to explain the computerised process for the billing of water and electricity consumption. Bills issued since October lacked basic information, making it difficult for consumers to understand them, the union said.
The union also complained that the bills were not being issued at regular intervals and sections of the population had not been billed since September. This was maladministartion which was causing pressures on people's living standards.
The union said that in line with a November 24 letter from the prime minister, it also expected a downward revision of the utility tariffs, now that international oil prices had stabilised.
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Anthony Castillo.
Mar 10th 2009, 22:52
@Jimmy Magro.How long it will take you to consume 12000k/wh and also do you know that Ene Malta have its payments to do mainly our wages+ other expences which we all know just about whats the amount. I think that you get paid for the work you do ,so how do you expect that Ene Malta change your meter to a modern one for free (not even in the early 80's when the wages was paid in peanuts).Also the crude oil is not 12 dollars a barrel like it was in the year 1996. I think you remember well that year.Please be a little bit more fair in you cments. Thank You.
Joseph Attard
Mar 10th 2009, 17:34
@JImmy Magro
Kindly note that the document forwarded to all press members stated the benefit is to be given to all non residential accounts consuming less then 1.2 million KWH and not
12, 000KWH as stated by the said report.
L..Galea
Mar 10th 2009, 17:21
Keith Davis
They are subsidies Keith, but excessive charges by Gonezipn to fill Malta's empty coffer.
Notwithstanding that the oil price has gone down to a quarter of is price last September electricity prices increased instead of decreasing.
The only point that I do not agree with is that these be limited to industry but should be for all including households.
And considering the drop in the price of oil 40% is not enough.
John Muscat
Mar 10th 2009, 16:44
Where has the UHM been all these weeks while the other 11 unions were battling this issue! The people know very well who has been consistent on this issue, they are not fools Sur Geitu Vella!
Keith Davis
Mar 10th 2009, 16:20
Instead of firing out a percentage figure on what to reduce SMEs, can the GRTU first say from where it is proposing these funds should come from?
Does it expect the citizens to keep making good for the industry?
Phil. Press
Mar 10th 2009, 15:44
@ Jimmy. We have just had a new digital meter installed. It is like a turbo charged maserati.
Mark Psaila
Mar 10th 2009, 15:31
GRTU secretary general is asking for 40% cuts.... it will be accepted by the Minister so that they will gain more votes.... i can tell you that before..... it will be accepted... wait and see
Jimmy Magro
Mar 10th 2009, 14:18
On substance, this is discriminatory. There are still families that consume more than 12000 k/wh. We are a household of six and we have the basic home appliances, use our bathroom etc. Even after making a house energy audit, my meter still turns like a maserati and I must confess that the only concusion is that the meter is faster than the actual consumption. If I complain to EneMalta I have to pay I do not how many euros to have the meter changes to a modern one.
Why should I pay when I know for sure the meter is not functioning well?
Not everybody has the resources to spend thousand of euros to get a 10 refund to save energy.
The bottom line is that the prices of crude and refined oil have gone down and our energy prices have gone up. It is he Government that is out of synch and not my energy comsumption.