The Prime Minister insisted this morning that the installation of smart meters in Armier boathouses which previously never had a meter did not have a bearing on the title rights of the tenants over the land.

Replying to questions after comments he made at a political conference yesterday, Dr Muscat said it had been known for years that electricity was being stolen at Armier. Some of the people in the boathouses were hooking up to neighbours who had the supply, or connecting to street lighting.

Giving them a smart meter was part of Enemalta's efforts to cut down on theft and had no implication on the long-term solution on the title of the land, Dr Muscat said.

Asked if those who had stolen electricity would be fined, he said there would be a programme of agreement between them and Enemalta.

Dr Muscat said yesterday that Enemalta had cut its losses by €20 million in the past year, one reason being its clamp-down on theft.