Enemalta is in the process of installing smart meters at the illegal boathouses in Armier, Times of Malta has learnt.

Angry critics claimed there was “no political will to clamp down on illegalities” and that updating the meters sends a message that wrongs are rewarded rather than penalised.

The decision comes as the government seeks to sanction the illegal shanty town, which has been a political hot potato for years.

This illegal robbing of public land is being again condoned at the expense of law-abiding citizens

There are around 800 boathouses in Armier, with sources saying only about 25 per cent actually have an electricity meter.

The rest, they said, either connect to their neighbours’ supply or else illegally siphon off the government’s supply to the area through street lights and other points. The same goes for water.

A corporation spokesman confirmed that its workmen visited the boathouses over the Santa Marija period, when most boathouses would be occupied, to verify how many had an old meter that needed changing to a smart one.

“Enemalta is in the process of replacing the remaining old electricity meters with new smart meters as part of a project to introduce an automated meter management system.

“It is Enemalta’s intention to replace all old meters in Malta and Gozo with smart meters,” he said.

The visits to Armier and other coastal areas were to record meter consumption readings for billing purposes, he said.

“Through this exercise, Enemalta aims to secure revenues due for electricity consumed in these buildings,” he said.

The spokesman said the State energy company was taking steps to stop the 75 per cent of boathouses without meters from stealing electricity.

“Enemalta is engaged in an ongoing effort to curb electricity theft in all areas of Malta and Gozo through different methods.

“Where irregularities are identified, appropriate action is immediately taken.”

Since a botched government attempt to demolish the structures in 1991, boathouse owners reached various secret agreements with the Nationalist and Labour administrations on ways to regularise their position.

However, the decision to install smart meters did not go down well with environmentalist groups.

Gaia, a coastal management organisation, said it was important that any decisions taken in connection with the controversial boathouses do not create a “dangerous precedent” or send a dangerous message to people not complying with the law.

“The act of changing meters to smart ones in boathouses that are not fully compliant with the planning laws also sends a clear message that past wrongs are rewarded rather than penalised.

“This can only give rise to further abuse that would continue to increase the enormous problems related to sustainable coastal land use and the proper regulation of boathouses,” chief executive Rudolph Ragonesi told Times of Malta.

He added that the energy corporation should tackle the “widespread abuse” where boathouses share electricity with their neighbours, while meters should be removed.

Simone Mizzi, executive president of Din l-Art Ħelwa, also shot down the exercise.

“We still expect the public to be informed what agreements the government has made, if any, with the illegal boathouse owners at Armier.

“Updating electricity services to smart meters does not change the long-standing unacceptable situation.

“It just means that this illegal robbing of public land is being again condoned at the expense of law-abiding citizens.”

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola said the move confirmed there is absolutely no political will to clamp down on illegalities.

“On the contrary, those who abuse the rule of law are rewarded, while law-abiding citizens are penalised and deprived of public land. This is a perversion of logic,” he said.

But Armier Developments Ltd chairman Tarcisio Barbara saw “nothing wrong”.

“If there’s a service, it has to continue being provided. I have had my meter for more than 30 years and environmentalists have nothing to do with this, they should mind their own business,” he said.

He confirmed boathouse owners had recently called Enemalta to complain about the low voltage they were receiving.

They also had issues with the Water Services Corporation, as most main pipes were old and bursting, he said.