Distribution of vouchers for bulbs expected to start this month
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today that it was hoped that the government distribution of vouchers exchangeable for energy saving bulbs would start at the end of this month.
Speaking at a press conference as part of the European Parliament electoral campaign,Dr Gonzi said that the process involving registration by retailers had now been completed, and vouchers for the bulbs would be distributed by locality.
The government said earlier this year that up to one million bulbs will be handed out. Households of one or two persons would receive five bulbs, those of three or four people would receive eight, and bigger households would receive 10.
At his press conference Dr Gonzi defended the government's decisions on the energy tariffs and also highlighted the cut in tariffs which was confirmed yesterday and is backdated to April 1. He said that the high tariffs between October and the end of March were the result of record oil prices. The past months, he said, had shown a drop in demand as people became more aware of their consumption patterns.
Dr Gonzi admitted that the tariffs could have been introduced in a better way last October, and lessons had been learnt, as the exercise conducted by the Malta Resources Authority for the new tariffs showed.
He also pointed out that the governemnt last summer absorbed €50 million so that the economy and households would not be burdened unduly as oil prices rocketed.
He also pointed out how, under the revised system, families would see their bills fall by an average of 22 percent. Two person households were expected to save some €79 per year and savings would grow for the bigger households.
SMEs would see a saving of some 29 percent.
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Paul Bartolo
May 8th 2009, 19:01
Let's put this into perspective: 1 standard light bulb: 60W 1 energy-saving equivalent: 10W So in one hour we save 50W. If we multiply it by 10, we'll be saving 500W. However, that is considering that all the lights are on. In any common situation, less than half will be used - Yet I must say that these energy-saving bulbs make me leave the light on for longer. If half the bulbs are on at all times, that is 250W savings. And if we are at home with the lights on 4 hours/day, that's 1kW per day. I.E. 30kW per month. More or less the same that one air conditioning device uses in 3 or 4 nights (not days) of continuous use. There are better, easier and more effective ways of saving energy.
aquilina N
May 8th 2009, 14:45
Mr. Pule' you would have voted PN just the same even if PL covered you in gold so please stop these antics. No one is saying that a good move for energy saving is a bad choice, but since these famous light bulbs were promised 14 months ago and since the price of water and electricity bills rose sky high last October don't you think that these bulbs had to be given months ago and not conveniently just a month before the election? Nghamlu imhatra li wara l-elezzjoni min ma jilhaqx jircievi il bozoz jibqa minghajrom?
Michael Pule'
May 8th 2009, 13:54
Dr. Lawrence Gonzi knows too well what he is doing and it seems that in the whole world only the PL + Joseph Muscat do not know that an exceptional financial crisis is in full swing. They keep talking as if the price of oil did not go up and pretend that we get the electricity/water service at the same price as before. Please note that during the PL times, the price of oil was 12$ compared to last year's 150$ & above. Of course, for MEP's choose those people who are TRULY convinced that the EU is our rightful place. The PL & its diehard followers cannot even appreciate a good move for energy saving. That is why I will vote PN this time - I am spoilt for choice!
Guido Farrugia
May 8th 2009, 13:26
How ironic. heee, hee, sorry i can,t stop the giggle.Come on, stand up and be counted. Vote for the PL MEP'S and do not let these people pull our legs anymore, bulbs or no bulbs. Let's push forward continuity and put the head of the Maltese Delegation, Mr. Louis Grech the vote he rightly
deserves, on top of our list
J.Borg
May 7th 2009, 16:10
Every thing seems to fall into place for GONZIPN as soon as an election is near.
Yesterday we had the announcement of electricity reductions, backdated 1st april. As if we didn't know them....but the MRA postponed the announcement till yesterday so that people will say....aaah see they were backdated. What a laugh!!!!
Now today we have GONZIPN telling us that the energy saving bulbs will be distributed by the end of this month, a few days before the EP elections. Another gimmick.
Now i am anticipating that at the end of May we will hear from PM2 that the prices of fuel will be decreased drastically.....another election gimmick..
We're not fools any more GONZIPN......
Nathalie Zammit
May 7th 2009, 15:48
@ Joe Formasa
I think you misunderstood me. Although I am a labourite , i voted IVA in 2004. I have no regrets that Malta joined the European Union. My only regret is that Gonzi seems to governing Malta but living in a different country.
My reference was towards the up coming elections. On the contrary to what you think I urge people to go out and vote for credible people like Louis Grech and Dr. Kirill Micallef Stafrace and Edward Scicluna.
Anthony Magri
May 7th 2009, 15:02
Since it is public knowledge that Gonzipn uses a travesty of generosity towards all Maltese when giving electricity saving bulbs, voters are to keep this in view and not let P.N. deceive them by dangling a carrot in front of them. Let him understand we are not asses as he probably considers us. Travesty of generosity! why! The bulbs are bought out of our taxes not out of his and the whole of the P.N. pockets. Every sane person could give a useful object to persons from whom he collects the corresponding amount. Of course he could rob the equivalent amount then say that he is being generous to distribute what he bought with the money illicitly earned. Typical of P.N. machinations
M. Storace
May 7th 2009, 13:42
Instead of distributing the bulbs (which had been promised a year ago) just before the EP elections, the government should have revised the utility bills from October 2008 and not stubbornly went ahead and issued such high bills.
Only the GonziPN diehards will fall for this bait.
J Cilia
May 7th 2009, 13:17
I still haven't decided whether to vote or not, and getting 10 energy saving bulbs at the end of the month does not make me change my mind. I agree with previous entries that the middle class keeps on getting bashed and the likelihood is that once the EP elections are over there will be more adverse fiscal measures coming our way. On the other hand I am not convinced that other parties, particularly the PL as yet deserves my confidence although admittedly candidates like Profs Scicluna are a welcome breath of fresh air.
Franco Farrugia
May 7th 2009, 13:14
This speech is a perfect damage-mitigating exercise, aimed at an electorate thought to be suffering from serious bouts of amnesia. Oh, well.
Joe Formosa
May 7th 2009, 13:07
@Nathalie Zammit
I do not fully concur with your comment where you have stated that it is a coincidence that the energy saving lamps are to be distributed before the EP elections.
The Government is clearly acknowledging the undeniable fact that all Maltese citizens of good will have firmly decided, albeit all the propoganda, to remain at home in the EP election day. Hence, for this simple reason the Government wants to help people save some energy in case they remain in front of their computer or their TV set.
Long live the CNI!
Christian Mifsud
May 7th 2009, 12:52
It is a shame that many people will fall for this gimmick :(
A Farrugia
May 7th 2009, 12:44
Can we please have an election every couple of weeks? As soon as the european election campaign started, Lawrence Gonzi started promising heaven on earth....even though when one reads between the lines, these promises will not get the middle class and the hard working maltese families in a better position.
Gonzi knows very well that he will not win the election with such half baked, empty promises.
Pull another one Gonzi. You will not deceit the maltese middle class again.
What we do need is a REAL middle class tax relief!
Ronald cauchi
May 7th 2009, 12:32
"Fiat lux" said the Lord, and five energy saving bulbs were given to every house in the land in time for the elections.And Gonzi looked round and he was well pleased.
Nathalie Zammit
May 7th 2009, 12:23
Simply Ridiculous !
What a coincidence that the distribution of bulbs is going to start just a month before the EP elections. Moreover, after months of pressure from the PL and a joint Union force the PM still did not reduce the Utility Tarrifs and just as the people get a dilemma regarding their votes the Electricity rates are reduced slightly with the aim to garn some more votes.
Can Gonzi guarantee that they will not rise after the elections? This has happened in the past even though he had given his word. So it simply boils down to Gonzi's word cannot be trusted anymore!
Gonzi has lost control of himself, his people and Malta!
mario scerri
May 7th 2009, 12:08
Jaqaw waslet xi elezzjoni? U gonzipn je jipprova jixtri l-voti bil-bozoz energy-saving?
GaleaL
May 7th 2009, 11:59
Elections tactics that no longer work.
Mari Farrugia
May 7th 2009, 11:54
This is just another electoral gimmick which Lawrence Gonzi excels at.
Gonzi reduced electricity tariffs before the general elections than shot them through the roof after the elections. Is it a coincidence that on the eve of elections, once again Lawrence Gonzi promises a slight decrease?! I think not.
Again, with the light bulbs, a year ago he promised them, now he says he will be delivering them A WEEK before the european elections.
How can we take Lawrence Gonzi seriously?
J.Sawn
May 7th 2009, 11:50
Hahaha!! The electoral promise is finally coming true a few weeks before the MEP elections? Coincidence, I think not.
Ajma x'ahna gullible f'dan il-pajjiz xi dwejjaq.
alan pace
May 7th 2009, 11:49
X'KUMBINAZZJONI!!!!!!!!!!