The tariffs: Gonzi's Christmas present - PL

Marco Cremona

Dec 15th 2009, 09:34

How can the regulator (MRA) say that there is no need for stakeholder consultation and then they approve the introduction of a sewage tariff? How will the sewerage tariff apply? Will it be on a per-person-in-the-household basis or tagged on to mains water consumption? How will sewage be measured?

How will MRA/WSC control those who use a borehole who will now not only save on mains water consumption but also not pay the sewage tax - if this is tagged to mains water consumption?

Will the citizen be made to pay the full cost of the sewerage services even though the government is failing to recover a single litre in recycled water from the new multi-million euro sewage treatment plants? Should we be paying the full price for their short-sightedness?

Where was the regulator when WSC insisted on building sewage treatment plants in the middle of nowhere (far away from agricultural land, the major user of recycled water)?

What measures are being taken to reduce groundwater extraction by the private sector to ensure a sustainable source of water, and affordable tariffs?

I think we needed consultation more than ever.

Sinclair Calleja

Dec 15th 2009, 09:27

Bill estimates with the new tariffs can be calculated using the Malta Utility Bill Calculator downloadable from http://www.mybill.com.mt, which has just been updated to reflect the new changes for bills as from 1 January 2010.

laurence schembri

Dec 15th 2009, 09:16

Sorry Martinelli, get the price right, the price of oil is as i said $60.66 a barrel. If we have to revert back to last October prices, the price of oil then was $1.47 a barrel. Here we a talking about a bankrupt goverment. the alternative is tax upon tax.

Christopher Debattista

Dec 15th 2009, 08:54

@J.Marinelli. THE NEW TARIFFS ARE BASED ON THE PN'S WRONG CHOICES, ACTIONS AND MISTAKES. AND WHO HAS TO PAY THE PRICE.......US ! .... By theway, did someone see the new tariffs on flash news ? it said from 5cents up to 14cents per UNIT ! I am still in dis-belief - Please did someone else see this on T.V. cause if its true, this ain't no good my friends ! I am still pinching myself to see if I was dreaming

R. Azzopardi

Dec 15th 2009, 08:49

@Laurence Schembri

Where did you get the oil prices from? According to Bloomberg, crude future prices are $69.72 and spot prices are $71.62 http://www.bloomberg.com/energy/

Furthermore, back in 1997 when Sant's administration lumped us with a sewage tax, we had no sewage treatment plants. Raw sewage was pumped directly into the sea. We now have two fully functional sewage treatment plants. I'm sure you understand that these plants cost money to run.

Anthony Mizzi

Dec 15th 2009, 08:09

Christmas the time for giving.....the Gonzipn way, with no elections in 2010

laurence schembri

Dec 15th 2009, 00:24

It has nothing to do with oil prices, the price of oil today is $60.66 a barrel. It it a case that this present administration is all over the place. Another door tax (house rates) is the drainage Tax that this government have in mind, go back to 1997, when Alfred Sant was accused that he wanting to introduce this tax, a door tax, the then opposition called it. This was also the time when Fenech Adami call the Sant administration "A Goverment without a social conscience", One wonders what he will call this present administrtion today

J Martinelli

Dec 14th 2009, 23:59

Why would the tariffs, when oil is about $78.00 a barrel, be any different than those in place when the price was approximately the same in 2008?

Are the tariffs not based on the price of oil? So, what the Opposition seems to suggest is to wait until the price goes further down then establish the tariff? And what if the lower prices are temporary? Winter is setting in, demand for oil always goes up and so will prices. Then the public will pay tariffs based on the low price but government pays at the increased prices?

But then what does the LP know about good business?

A Cassar

Dec 14th 2009, 22:59

Mhux hekk! hekk jew hekk il-maratona tal-PN issa ghaddiet. Li kellna nghatu tghajnieh eh.Grazzi Gvern !