Water tariffs to remain unchanged
The water tariffs are to remain unchanged because the cost base for water production has remained practically unchanged, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt said this afternoon.
Enemalta yesterday announced it had proposed tariff reductions averaging 22 percent for electricity.
Dr Gatt said the power tariffs would be reduced following a 16.7 percent drop in costs for the generation of electricity.
He said the biggest chunk of that drop was the decline in oil prices, which meant that Enemalta's oil bill since October had fallen to €159.4 million from €223.
Dr Gatt insisted that the reduced tariffs would not be backdated and there would be no refund for bills issued since October.
He said the new tariffs and the cost base still had to be confirmed by the Malta Resources Authority, but Enemalta was obliged to introduce the new tariffs by April 1.
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James De Giorgio
Mar 24th 2009, 20:39
"The water tariffs are to remain unchanged because the cost base for water production has remained practically unchanged"
Then according to that principle dear Austin, petrol and eletricity prices should go way down!
One weight, two measures?
D Zammit
Mar 24th 2009, 18:38
Re My previous post: Last sentence in the first paragraph it had to read as folows:
Besides to add insult to injury when I phoned to see how they calculated how much units I used from Oct-Nov, they said we take average!!
J. Abela
Mar 24th 2009, 17:55
I wouldn't be surprised that the gov will make a U-turn on the changes in tariffs.
Such strategy will set a suspense scenario. Opposition insisted on a revision from 195% to 50% surcharge (as should be). Enamalta proposed a @saving@ of 22% (mind you a saving on the revised upwards tariffs i.e. 195%!!!).
Before June elections, the gov will announce close to 22% revision downwards, and people will applaud with joy. Well better 22% decrease than a 0%!. yippi!
D Zammit
Mar 24th 2009, 17:44
I received water and electricity bill. The amount f units for the period Oct-~Nov was half that May-Sept. However the bill was more!! Besides to add insult to injury when I phoned to see how they calculated how much units I used from Oct-May, they said we take average!!
Oh dear I'm paying extra for an assumption. Please note I still do not live in my flat and I used it much more from June till August!! So I'm paying for a period which I wasn't there!!
A.Vella
Mar 24th 2009, 17:34
OK Dr Gatt - so you are saying the the cost base hasn't decreased but will it following the reduction of the electricity tariffs? ISN'T ENEMALTA SUPPLYING THE POWER TO WSC??
Anthony Grech
Mar 24th 2009, 17:04
'The water tariffs are to remain unchanged because the cost base for water production has remained practically unchanged, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt said this afternoon.'
One question for Hon. Dr.A. Gatt. What did you and your Government do to save the rain water that God sent us in abundance this year?
So much for the 'PAROLI' regarding the Environment
P.Schembri
Mar 24th 2009, 16:45
No need for the price of oil to increase. The water tariffs will increase. It has already been said that this year water has to increase in price.
F Borg
Mar 24th 2009, 16:19
Paprata Nazzjonalista ohra din. Wara s-6 ta' Gunju, cert li kif il-prezz taz-zejt jiccaqlaq naqra 'l fuq nergghu nigu koppi.
dusty williams
Mar 24th 2009, 16:17
At least some people use their intelligence, excellent comments simon cassar and mario scerri but will thwe majority of people thing excaclty the way you think? i hope so
Andrew Mangion
Mar 24th 2009, 16:15
Quote:
He said the new tariffs and the cost base still had to be confirmed by the Malta Resources Authority, but Enemalta was obliged to introduce the new tariffs by April 1.
Do I understand correctly that Minister Austin Gatt does not give a hoot about MRA, if Enemalta has to introduce the tariffs by April1?
Afterall, Joseph Muscat was right in saying that these Authorities were only set-up to look as if we are the same as other EU countries.
Marco Cremona
Mar 24th 2009, 16:13
I believe that the cost of water in Malta was (and still is) ridiculously low. How can one explain that even with the new tariffs one only pays Euro 84 for 66,000 litres of potable water (to EU Drinking Water standards) delivered at pressure to your doorstep on demand - in a country that is ranked the 9th thirstiest country in the world ?
However, Minister Gatt's declaration that "the cost base for water production has remained practically unchanged" is incredulous.
55% of our WSC's water comes from energy-intensive desalination plants, whose cost base is predominantly the electricity cost. Moreover, WSC then consumes a not-insignificant amount of electricity to pump the water to the consumer.
So how can the Minister say that WSC's cost base has remained practically unchanged?
Does WSC pay the same electricity tariff as anybody else or not ??? I think we are not getting the true story, yet again.
R Sammut
Mar 24th 2009, 16:09
Given that the reverse osmosis works with electricity which is produced from burning oil and oil price has gone down, then the cost base for water production HAS GONE DOWN!!!
franco massa
Mar 24th 2009, 16:06
Who are we trying to fool? Hasn't it always been claimed that Enemalta's biggest consumer is Water Services? Now if the cost of electricity is going to be reduced, shouldn;t this cost reduction also be reflected in water rates? or was this just a charade for the PM to be seen to be doing something?
Guess Joseph Muscat was right after all, this move was just meant as a pre electoral gimmick in anticipation of the MEP elections
Simon Cassar
Mar 24th 2009, 15:46
Is Enemalta going to buy the new consignment of oil next 1st April? If it had already bought the oil, then why the new tariffs reductions start from next April, and not from the time the oil was bought???
How come "the cost base for water production remained the same" if there was an actual drop in oil prices. As far as I know, reverse osmosis plants work with electricity (about 10% of total output from the power station) and so the running costs of a reverse osmosis plant have definetly been reduced?
mario scerri
Mar 24th 2009, 15:42
Gonzipn trying to fish for votes. For MPE elections.