The Ministry for Infrastructure yesterday published its proposed electricity tariffs showing a reduction in the basic rate of 4c2 per kilowatt hour, even before the Malta Resources Authority has pronounced itself on the proposals.

The rates published are those for a single person household, intended as a guideline.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that Enemalta had concluded its revised proposals for the water and electricity tariffs and that the data was being passed on to the authority for its approval.

It is the role of the authority, as the regulator, to give the go-ahead for the new tariffs to come into force.

The ministry yesterday said the revisions represent an average reduction of 22 per cent in residential tariffs and should come into effect on April 1.

The proposed reductions are based on Enemalta's projected cost base for 2009, which has been revised downwards to €159 million from €223 million at the beginning of the year.

The ministry said the biggest reduction in costs is due to the corporation's projected lower fuel bill.

The first 2,000 kWh of electricity consumption will be charged at 11c9 per kilowatt as opposed to the current rate of 16c1 per kilowatt.

The second batch of 6,000 kWh will now be charged at 13c4, a reduction of 3c9 from the current tariff, while the third tier up to 10,000 kWh will be charged at 15c2, a reduction of 3c7.

Tariffs for consumption up to 20,000 kWh and over will remain the same at 20c9 and 23c2 respectively.

The ministry said that the service charge and the eco-reduction mechanism are to remain the same.

For non-residential consumers the corporation has proposed an average reduction of 26 per cent in electricity tariffs.

The new tariff structure is the same for hotels, industry and other commercial concerns unlike the differentiated structure in place today.

The highest tariff applicable for heavy industrial users consuming more than five million kWh of energy will be 8c6 per kilowatt, a reduction of 4c8 on current consumption charges.

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