Prime Minister Joseph Muscat warned this morning that the government and Enemalta would clamp down on the theft of electricity, even in boathouses, once tenants were given the opportunity to regularise their position and install electricity meters.
Replying to questions after an Enemalta/ARMS announcement that it would receive applications to install meters in boathouses in Armier and St Thomas Bay, Dr Muscat said it was unacceptable that for years, the authorities knew of practically whole villages stealing electricity, without anybody doing anything about it.
The tenants would now have one month to regularise their position, after which there would be a clamp-down on theft, Dr Muscat said.
Times of Malta reported today that in terms of the scheme, people using illegal boathouses can obtain a temporary electricity supply for about €1,500 and extend the service by paying an annual renewal fee of €230.
The regulations say the arrangement will not grant the applicants any right or entitlement of any nature on the property in question.
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.
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]”.