A Labour Government would give households and businesses a choice on utility billing frequency, enabling them to plan ahead, leader Joseph Muscat said last night.

Addressing businessmen and constituted bodies at a business forum, Dr Muscat said such a measure would not only result in more peace of mind for consumers but also benefit businesses as people will not hold back on their disposable income.

He said the party was heartened by the Government’s latest reaction to its energy proposal. The Government was admitting that something could actually be done about the energy tariffs and they could be reduced.

The Government first said tariffs could not be reduced, then said Labour’s proposal was a gimmick and then declared it would take it upon itself to reduce tariffs. The latest position was that Labour’s proposal required more time and money to deliver.

Dr Muscat said business would benefit twice from the proposed reductions through the cuts themselves and through the people’s increased spending power.

Regarding the frequency of bills, Dr Muscat said this was one of the main complaints the party had received from both residential and business customers who said the irregularity was resulting in uncertainty.

He said customers would be able to choose when to receive their bills: every month, every three months or every six months.

Replying to questions by Josef Vella, general secretary of the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, PL candidate Konrad Mizzi, who took over the technical aspect of the energy plan, said the proposals would not incentivise waste. On the other hand, there was a progressive pricing structure where people who consumed less, paid less.

Dr Muscat said the party would retain the present system of energy vouchers and eco reduction discounts.

When asked about the interest by the private sector in the project, Dr Muscat said the party was confident there would be interest.

In his presentation on the plan, Dr Mizzi said the Government had admitted that no gas pipeline would be available before 2018, so Labour’s proposal was for the construction of a terminal having two large tanks that could store 60,000 cubic metres of liquefied natural gas.

“We are taking the lead in the energy sector,” Dr Mizzi said.