Illegal boathouse owners can obtain a temporary electricity supply for about €1,500 and extend the service by paying an annual renewal fee of €230, according to regulations published ARMS Ltd.
Though it was initially thought that the offer would only be made to boathouse owners at Armier, in the limits of Mellieħa, it was eventually decided to include boathouses at St Thomas Bay, in Marsascala.
The regulations say the arrangement will not grant the applicants any right or entitlement of any nature on the property in question.
The development comes in the wake of an announcement by the Prime Minister that boathouse owners would be given smart meters as a means for Enemalta to crack down on electricity theft.
Reacting to Opposition criticism that such a move would legitimise such illegal structures, Dr Muscat said the government wanted to tackle rampant electricity theft irrespective of what long-term solution was found to address the issue of land use.
“I find it unacceptable that people steal electricity and one of the outstanding issues was these boathouse villages,” he said.
Electricity theft is unlawful and could be punishable with a prison term.
However, a special scheme has been devised for the boathouses, which, in turn, could rack up cash for the government.
Apart from an application fee of €460, boathouse owners will have to pay a €1,000 deposit on consumption.
Though this will be refunded once the service is terminated, in the event that payments are not affected on time or remain due for a period of 45 days following the termination, the money would be automatically forfeited.
The deposit can also be lost if the supply is not used in accordance with the contract.
An Enemalta spokesman told Times of Malta consumption would be charged at domestic rates; the middle tier in the ARMS billings structure, more expensive than residential rates but cheaper than non-residential (commercial) tariffs. The regulations also demand that applicants declare whether they are affiliated to a boathouse association. The spokesman said this was only being done for “reference purposes” because membership was not mandatory to be eligible for a temporary electricity supply.
Apart from a site plan, boathouse owners must have their electrical installation earthed and certified by a qualified electrician.
The applicant shall also be responsible for supplying, at his own expense, the necessary connecting cables for the temporary supply and provide an insulated enclosure to house the electricity meter, outside the boathouse.
Enemalta reserves the right to terminate the agreement and stop the supply without judicial recourse or liability for compensation in the event of any authority ordering the removal of the boathouse.
The service will be renewable every 12 months at a cost of €230. Applicants will be obliged to settle any outstanding payments in full before requesting an extension.
In January 2012, the planning authority had turned down an application for the construction of an electricity substation at Armier, arguing that there was no justification for the structure in an outside development zone.
A year later, the Environment Planning Tribunal reinforced this decision, slamming the corporation for making a request to build an electricity substation outside the development zone to service illegal boathouses in St Thomas Bay.
The tribunal had remarked that such development would only serve to “supply electricity to its clients who built illegally and in ODZ [areas]”.