Power feed-in tariffs announced - Gozitans to enjoy better rates
Households in Malta which produce electricity through photovoltaic units will be paid €0.25 for every unit of electricity they feed into the power grid, the government announced today. Households in Gozo will be paid €0.28 in a measure taken as part of the eco-Gozo initiative.
The feed-in rate for power supplied by business establishments is €0.20.
In contrast, households pay Enemalta €0.16c1 for every unit they use up to the first 2,000 units, while businesses pay €0.16c2.
The governemnt said that the advantageous feed in tariffs were being introduced to encourage more people to opt for renewable energy sources.
It said that the new tariffs, combined with the assistance of up to half the cost of a domestic photovoltaic unitsmeant that costs could be recouped within eight years.
The tariffs are guaranteed for eight years for households and seven years for businesses.
Gozitan households can also benefit from a grant of €560 to install a solar water heater.
The feed-in tariff for households will apply for a maximum generating capacity of 3kW for households. Installations in businesses cannot be bigger than 100kW to qualify for the tariffs.
The amount of installations which can be accepted under the scheme for the first year is capped at 7.5MW.
People who have already installed photovoltaic units and are under the net metering system may opt to switch to the feed-in tariff.
The government said this was one of the initiatives being taken so that 10% of Malta's energy consumption would come from renewable sources.
Details will be published in the Government Gazette in the coming days. Further details are available from the Resources Authority on telephone 22955151 during office hours.
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Paul Camilleri
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:20
@ M.Tabone,
Another useless comment .... Whining like a child over 3 cents? GROW UP!!
Jeez you do sound Maltese! I cant imagine what you'd be complaing about if you were to live across the channel!
M Tabone
Jul 22nd 2010, 07:46
Can the GOV explain to his own people why he is discriminating against his own people???Or there are people more equal than others!!
Edward Mallia
Jul 22nd 2010, 06:57
Questions answered. The scheme is a new one. Every generated unit will go on to the mains
and be paid for at 25c or 28c. Existing set ups will have to be re-metered; and the 8 years guarantee period will being to count from the time the system started to function with net metering. In my particular case I have been penalised doubly: from 2003 to 2005, any spare units sent on to the mains were given away for free as I had an ordinary meter only, with one-way rotation. Net metering started in May 2005; so I have only 3 years guaranteed period left. Incidentally one piece of information that is missing: what is the rate after the guaranteed period?
Edward Zammit
Jul 21st 2010, 22:44
Why are so much people taking on the Gozitans as if they are doing this themselves ?! Firstly they do deserve a break like this, since the expenses they have to get into, to island hop to work / study (or even do some simple shopping or visit relatives who are in Mater Dei Hospital sometimes ).
And secondly money wise to carry electricity to Gozo an such a large span of cables is also very costly for EneMalta since the more length of cable you have, the more resistance is built in the grid thus more expenses on the boosting of the system to carry the load needed to cater for the demand of the Island efficiently, thus if Gozo is generating enough electricity to cater for a substantial percentage of its own demand, it would be much more cost effective for EneMalta to come up with such a scheme. ( And it makes much more sense than the Eco Gozo story ).
C Galea
Jul 21st 2010, 21:34
"The feed-in tariff for households will apply for a maximum generating capacity of 3kW for households."
Apologies for my lack of information but how many kW are there in one unit of electricity?
Also, the feed-in tariff for households will apply for a maximum generating capacity of 3kW per hour? Per day? Per week? Per month?
It would help greatly if this was specified, since it will make a LOT of difference!
Mario Cachia
Jul 22nd 2010, 06:44
@C Galea. I unit of electricity is equivalent to a power consumption of 1Kw for 1 hour. Hence 1 unit = 1 KWh. When we talk of a pv generting plant of 3KW that refers to what is called the peak power ie the size. Hence a 3KWp system will have a capacity to give at maximum 3kw per hour. Therfore as a rule of thumb we normally equate a 1Kw system to generate around 4.2Kwh per day. Therfore a 3Kw system will give around 12.6Kwh per day which is 12.6units of electricity per day. This however can give more if one uses higher efficiency panels. Hope this helps
Edward Mallia
Jul 21st 2010, 19:07
The so-called net-metering system did have a feed-in tariff of €0.07. That applied to the case where OVER A BILLING PERIOD (2 months) one had generated more PV units than one used from the mains: not usual for an ordinary household of four persons. But during the middle part of a sunny day, one may be generating more than the house is taking. That extra is cumulatively recorded on the Enemalta meter and the meter reader records the IN and OUT figures shown separately on the meter, subtracts the OUT from the IN and charges me for the result: a pure barter system in practice.
Our use of the term 'feed-in tariff' is unique. The term is normally applied to denote the price of ALL PV-GENERATED UNITS. That apart, does the 'new' system mean that henceforth the meter reader will take the IN and OUT readings as usual, but instead of subtracting OUT from IN and charging me for the result, he will charge me for IN - €0.25 x OUT? In that case it is ARMS which has to 'switch', not me. Or is the 'new' nothing more than the 'old' , with an increased but rarely reachable tariff?
A Mercieca
Jul 21st 2010, 18:54
Infact Mr Sciberras Gozo finished full of pensioners and old age people since there are no job opportunities and young families are moving to Malta to find work. Ask the University students????
Karl Abela
Jul 21st 2010, 18:48
good move we all have been waiting for!
Paul Borg
Jul 21st 2010, 17:44
Everyone please note that the feed in Tariff in Italy is .43c per unit. So one can sum up what the real deal is. Maybe soon we will have a competitive power supplier that will make it worth while to switch.
T Schembri
Jul 21st 2010, 17:22
this is the way foward to have more PV pannels on our roof tops.
Charles Zammit
Jul 21st 2010, 17:12
Looks like the gozitans' vote carries more weight than ours. Can anyone think of a government discriminating between his own citizens on the basis of location?? This government is showing time and again his unlimited grudge against people in the south.
For gozitans there are only preferential rates for the feed in electrical power. People in the south have to bear the brunt and make do with a polluting power station, the recycling plant with waste possibly coming from Gozo too; to mention but a few. Is this not another government sponsored manifestation of arrogance towards supposedly equal citizens?
J.Pace
Jul 21st 2010, 17:01
You are complaining because of Gozo and Malta difference, what about people who cannot benefit from this. These are useless for flats residents, especially the ones without a roof because of penthouses or a house having a block of flats next to it.
c camilleri
Jul 22nd 2010, 01:25
Iva, htija tal-Gvern li hawn nies joqghod go flat! Messu jixtrilhom bejt kullwiehed ha jibdew jaqilghu l-flus! lol
Chris Grima
Jul 23rd 2010, 06:34
Those people who do not have their own roofs or have a penthouse above them should be lucky!! We have the blazing sun on our roof all day long, and it is unbearably hot!!!
So we have the roof, ok, we have to bear the winter cold and summer heat through it. I truly feel that despite having our moments of relaxation in summer, it is a distinct disadvantage.
It is a given fact that people living on top maisonettes consume far more electricity. That is what the government should do. Even subsidising us with a measly 3 units daily would alleviate some of the pressure.
We simply cannot live with an air-conditioner, especially during the nights when the concrete ceiling releases its heat...
A. Azzopardi
Jul 21st 2010, 16:55
So these tariffs are guaranteed for 8 years. But will the price of electricity to the consumer still remain fixed for eight years or will this differential be nibbled away within a couple of years?
T Camilleri
Jul 21st 2010, 18:25
A. Azzopardi not only will it be nibbled away but prepare yourself for another gas price increase. Shall we say €2 for the 12 kilo cylinder in the near future?
Stefan Riolo
Jul 21st 2010, 16:55
@ Ramon Casa - what on earth are you talking about?
@ Marco Cremona - Smart Question? I cannot believe a person with your integrity would say that!
Jack Sparrow
Jul 21st 2010, 19:19
I don't think you actually understood Mr Cacha's question.
Ramon Casha
Jul 21st 2010, 20:38
Read it and find out.
Marco Cremona
Jul 21st 2010, 20:55
@Stefan Riolo
I honestly cannot understand what you're on about. Ramon Casha came up with a potential pitfall for the scheme (a smart observation) and i came up with suggestions on how government/Enemalta can mitigate against this abuse.
My integrity is certainly not at stake here.
Jenny Griggles
Jul 21st 2010, 16:33
Let me try to figure it out. I consume 2000 units yearly Then my bill would be 2000 X E0.16c1 = E322.
Then in the same year I feed to the grid with 2000 units yearly : 2000 X E0.25c = E500.
Does this mean that I get paid by enemalta E178, the difference between E322 and E 500 ?
Sounds too good to be true . Better wait until the legal notice is published !!!!
Adrian Cachia
Jul 21st 2010, 19:26
Will take you a while to feed 2000 units back into the grid and you forgot that you would be consuming some of that energy anyway if you have the space and some extra cash it's worth the investment!
Mario Vella
Jul 21st 2010, 16:32
That's rich given that the 50% subsidy on photovoltaics is suspended because of the Nationalist majority in San Lawrenz, GOZO!
K Cuschieri
Jul 21st 2010, 16:09
finally a step in the right direction....
martin saliba
Jul 21st 2010, 16:08
Why are gozitans being given preferential treament ? Is it because of all the work force in gozo the majority have some kind of disability and are also recieving disability pensions ?
M. Vella
Jul 21st 2010, 16:14
Are you serious...the majority?? The majority go to work in Malta LOL
Joseph Demanuele
Jul 21st 2010, 16:28
The location is preferred rather than the gozitans since malta in the EU to get some more funding for gozo projected it as an Eco Country and therefore they have to show that they are doing something about it. This would give them an incentive to get cleaner energy after all if they consume less the delimara power station would send less puffs of black smoke on malta. i guess its a win win situation for malta and gozo.
martin saliba
Jul 21st 2010, 16:53
@ M. Vella , yes the majority. As far as i know there was an official report from the gozo ministry which said that there are more gozitans of working age recieving disability pensions than those working. Maybe the ministry for gozo can correct me if i'm wrong.
Silvan Cutajar
Jul 21st 2010, 17:45
They should have used such discriminatory measures in more areas of Malta or in none at all. I can think of areas such as Cottonera and densely polluted areas close to the power stations that merit some compensation too.
M. Vella
Jul 21st 2010, 18:08
@ Martin Saliba
You're quoting the part of the report that suits you dear Mr Saliba...as per the report, some villages in Gozo ranked higher then those in Malta regarding benefits but it doesn't mean that there are more Gozitans receiving benefits then people working!
And then, you're mixing two arguments so as to make your point a valid one. I am 100% against abuse just as you are...let's start checking how many Maltese have a holiday home (villegjatura) in Gozo and pay a subsidised ferry trip!
C. Azzopardi
Jul 21st 2010, 16:07
any questions raised why Gozo will get better tariffs?
a. sciberras
Jul 21st 2010, 16:04
it pays to be a gozitan - particularly because there are no work opportunities!
Joseph Vassallo
Jul 21st 2010, 16:12
so why haven't they all moved to Malta?
M. Vella
Jul 21st 2010, 16:27
@ Joseph Vassallo
Some of them have...regarding the others....they have something called a family in Gozo... I think it's better that a method is found soon to try to attract investment to Gozo...mhux se nispiccaw sinjuri u xjuh biss!
a. sciberras
Jul 21st 2010, 16:32
@M Vella
because some of them are ready to make sacrifices example being a graduant and working as a waiter and getting the wage of a waiter, rather than someone who has a degree, if you manage to find even that. that is eco-gozo for you... sustainable indeed!
Christian Sciberras
Jul 21st 2010, 16:32
Joseph, who says they don't? Tell me, have you ever been to M'forn in winter?
Karl Sultana
Jul 21st 2010, 16:57
If the situation remain the same, yes all gozitans will move to malta.....
Frans van Avendonk
Jul 21st 2010, 16:59
What about all those Maltese with a second home in Gozo, do they get Maltese or Gozitan feed in tariffs?
M. Vella
Jul 21st 2010, 18:15
@ A Sciberras
You answered yourself....some Gozitans are already doing more sacrifices (than you do) and the government considers this discrimination against those living in Gozo...So the government tries to positively discriminate to make up for all the money the Gozitans have to pay to live the same life as you do!
A Mercieca
Jul 21st 2010, 18:53
Infact Mr Sciberras Gozo finished full of pensioners and old age people since there are no job opportunities and young families are moving to Malta to find work. Ask the University students????
Ramon Casha
Jul 21st 2010, 16:00
So households will receive 25c for every unit they produce, while paying 16 for every unit they consume.
Interesting arithmetic. I wonder how many people will try to plug the electricity from the mains directly back into the grid, in order to get paid 9c per unit without doing anything.
Marco Cremona
Jul 21st 2010, 16:19
Smart question.....but I think there are a number of ways on how Government/Enemalta can plug this potential loophole:
1) one has to have the PV installation registered, have a special meter installed etc. - so not every Tom, Dick and Harry can do this
2) Everybody knows how much a PV of a particular size can generate in terms of electricity, so it would be relatively easy to catch out somebody who's sending out more electricity than what his/her PV installation can actually generate
3) Don't know if the still-to-be-installed smart meters can actually detect such abuse
4) spot checks.
Alex Mallia
Jul 21st 2010, 16:21
Spain ran a similar system and lots of companies were caught running polluting diesel generators and feeding into the grid with those, but your idea is pure genius.
Joseph Apap
Jul 21st 2010, 17:01
Your Arithmetic does not hold water as only the first 2000 units are at the price of Euro 0.16,1
Paul Barrett
Jul 21st 2010, 22:37
Oh - didn't you know - the elec produced by PV has a yellow dye added to it so that they can tell if it didn't come from the PV system.
N.B. PV elec also has a grey tint when generated on cloudy days.
Gee - thought everyone knew this :-)
Mario Cachia
Jul 22nd 2010, 09:28
For anyone to have an energy meter to seupply to the grid there has to be an application for generation with all the details of the generating plant inserted and signed by a warranted engineer. The size of t hepv system is well known and as Marco Crmona rightly said we all know what the max power output normally is. And this iwll be recorded by MRA> If peopl ewant to mess around well then it is their business as we are becoming experts at breaking a system rather than supporting it. Feed in tariffs have been used well enough in most of the world for many years. Why do we have to be so different?
N. Pace
Jul 21st 2010, 16:00
why should Gozitans get better rates? do they pay more taxes than we Maltese do? can someone explain????????
M. Vella
Jul 21st 2010, 16:11
Dear Mr. N Pace,
The Gozitans pay much more then you imagine to go to work and get back home while you are doing your part-time to get some extra cash for your family. You know what...if it were for me, I won't accept the 3 euro cent difference for every unit so that a grumbler like you gets so excited to post something on timesofmalta.com
V Caruana
Jul 21st 2010, 15:58
Daqqa ta' Ħarta oħra lill-klassi tan-nofs. Minn jiflaħ idaħħal sistema ta' enerġija mix-xemx u jikkonsma l-elettriku bil-għaqal jista jagħmel qliegħ fl-aħħar tas-senab'sistema ta' 3kW. Minn ma għandux biex iħallas id-dawl dan huwa ssussidjat. Minn qiegħed ma' l-ebda klassi jkollu jħallas il-kont (u jissussidja lil oħrajn).
Fred Borg
Jul 21st 2010, 15:57
It's because Gozitans pay more taxes, so it's only fair that they get more subsidies.
robert micallef
Jul 21st 2010, 16:23
pay more taxes ? really ? most buisness in Gozo is on the Black ! i.e no vat no income tax
m attard
Jul 21st 2010, 15:56
2 of 2
I wonder if anyone from Enemalta or Arms Ltd is interested in answering this query. I am NOT going to spend 2 hours or more in their customer care queue to be told that's the way it is and I can either take it or leave it. At worst, everyone using electricity in Malta & Gozo has the chance of being cheated. At best, this is misleading and unfair advertising.
EGATT
Jul 21st 2010, 16:16
Actually its quite simple. The 2000 units at the lower rate is per calendar year so you were charged proportianately for the period covered by the bill you recevied.
Joseph Demanuele
Jul 21st 2010, 16:23
Bills are calculated on a pro rata basis, if you also saw the service charge you did not pay it for the full year in your first bill but according to the number of days or months passed. so if u sell your house even that is not paid in full.
That is actually to your benefit so you would not have the first bill 'cheap' and the second one very expensive.
m attard
Jul 21st 2010, 18:57
Ok, so it's per calendar year. So if I move to a new home, would I continue to get the 16c1 charge until I reach my personal 2,000 units? Or are the electricity units per house, and not per owner? It it's the former, then I have no personal initivative to lower my usage if I know I'm going to move home.
@ Joseph Demanuele
Regarding the service charge, this remains the same should I move house or not, and that's why I did not mention in my first comment. And as a mature adult, I expect to take care of my own bills. I do not need Enemalta to 'ration' me.
1c2 per unit may not be much (for some), but multiplied by all those who are in this position and that makes a big difference to Enemalta's income.
A. Slater
Jul 21st 2010, 15:54
Fantastic Initiative. Well done to all concerned
A. Agius
Jul 21st 2010, 15:53
Anyone care to explain the reason for the difference? - A sensible reason.
Marco Cremona
Jul 21st 2010, 16:14
Simple.... it costs more for Enemalta to deliver electricity to Gozo - for the same tariff, so I guess it would be in Enemalta's interest to reduce the electrical load in Gozo, in particular.
m attard
Jul 21st 2010, 15:51
1 of 2....
"households pay Enemalta €0.16c1 for every unit they use up to the first 2,000 units" - this is not fully true. I called Enemalta today to enquire about the electricity bill I have just received, which covers the period from 4/12/09 to 14/06/10.. For the year 2010, I have been charged as follows - 904.11 units at €0.16c1 and the rest at €0.17c3. According to their statement above, I should have been charged at 16c1 until I reach 2,000 units. The person I spoke to had never come across my query before, so I was put on hold until she spoke to someone else (a superior, I imagine). When she came back on the line she told me that I will be charged another 1,096 units at the lower rate but this will be done in the next bill. I told her that if I had to sell my house or emigrate in the next few months, this would be totally unfair on me since I would not have been given my 2,000 units at the cheaper rate. All she could tell me was to go to customer care if I wanted clarification.
Sinclair Calleja
Jul 21st 2010, 16:25
Dear Sir,
The 2000 units @ 16c1 is spread evenly across the year. This means that if the bill is for the first 6 months of the year, you will have 1000 units @ 16c.1. If it is for three months, you will have 500 units @ 16c1.
For more information please visit http://www.mybill.com.mt
Sinclair Calleja
Malta Utility Bill Calculator
D. A . Agius
Jul 21st 2010, 17:19
Or use the bIll calculator on the WSC website www.wsc.com.mt (which is finally working again)
Kurt Tabone
Jul 21st 2010, 15:44
Isn't that discrimination and against the law??????
Marco Cremona
Jul 21st 2010, 16:21
I think it's within EU rules - given Gozo's disadvantaged/isolated status
Christian Sciberras
Jul 21st 2010, 16:34
No..??!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Galea
Jul 21st 2010, 15:41
@all Maltese around
It pays to emigrate to GOZO. Then they can start enjoying the panoramic ferry trip every day to work, especially during the winter months.
CZARB
Jul 21st 2010, 15:38
Isn't that discrimination?
g.sinagra
Jul 21st 2010, 15:35
It pays to be a Gozitan in more ways than one.
m vella
Jul 21st 2010, 15:48
I was waiting for someone to post such a comment! Why don't you come and live in Gozo then....and try to find a job without making at least three hours travelling + costs!! A Gozitan worker working for the state is not provided with a hotel and lunch free of charge when he/she comes to work in Gozo like a Maltese. And you're complaining about an old cent for every unit generated?!