Finance Minister Edward Scicluna. Photos: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi yesterday said he was shocked by the “completely disastrous” state of the utility and billing company ARMS and that he was committed to getting the company “on track”.

Speaking at the latest in a series of public consultation meetings being organised to mark the new government’s first 100 days, Dr Mizzi said that some €160 million in unpaid utility bills had not been collected.

“Some of these bills stretch back over two years,” Dr Mizzi said.

He said that only 42,000 smart meters had been installed but that pressure from the new government to finalise the nation-wide smart meter scheme had led to a further 22,000 meters being installed.

Smart meters allow for the real time, remote readings of electricity and water usage. Originally introduced in 2009, they promised to make manual readings a thing of the past and allow consumers to track their usage online.

Dr Mizzi noted that a review had been ordered to propose solutions to the shortfalls at ARMS.

Dr Mizzi was joined by Finance Minister Edward Scicluna who announced that the appointment of a commission for financial services was on the horizon.

The commission would be tasked with investigating disputes between investors and financial institutions.

Prof. Scicluna also hinted at the setting up of a working group on pensions which in collaboration with the Ministry for Social Policy “We need to discuss pensions as well as incentives for youth to start saving for their future,” Prof. Scicluna said.

Several reports had been drafted by the previous Pensions Working Group headed by group chairman David Spiteri Gingell. The latest report had suggested a mandatory second pillar pension system to be flanked by incentives for youth saving. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, however, had dismissed the report as contradictory.

Board to address Enemalta injustices

A board to address injustices that might have occurred during the recent Enemalta reforms will be set up in the coming weeks, Energy Minister Konrad Minister announced.

Dr Mizzi was answering a question fielded by a life-long Enemalta employee who insisted he had been treated unfairly on several occasions because he did not have “a blue badge”. The employee said he had been overlooked for pay raises and had lost count of the number of transfers he had received.

“I’m not alone, there are many, many more like me,” the employee said. Dr Mizzi said he had received hundreds of similar complaints which had prompted him to set up the board, which will consist of members of the General Workers Union as well as independent stakeholders.

“I will not deal with these cases myself because I do not want to solve injustice by creating more injustice. This government will handle things transparently,” Dr Mizzi said.