Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green party, said yesterday that the imminent increase in the electricity surcharge was unjust and a clear case of "calculator politics". Energy spokesman Ralph Cassar, said AD does not believe that a uniform rate of surcharge as imposed by the government is sufficiently effective both environmentally and socially.

"We reiterate our proposal that rather than just one flat rate, a number of rates are introduced that would apply according to usage on a per capita household basis. In this way, heavy users would be contributing towards slashing the surcharge for the efficient users".

The spokesman on sustainable development, Carmel Cacopardo said the country cannot keep increasing the surcharge across the board simply to keep up with the price of oil.

If Malta wants to reach the EU target for Malta of 10 per cent of energy produced from renewable sources by 2020, a serious plan with clear targets and deadlines has to be put in place as soon as possible.

Mr Cassar said that AD's proposals include the installation of a four- to five-turbine wind farm, which will generate electricity at a cost of about €0.05 per unit, while electricity generated by Enemalta costs about €0.11 per unit; a national programme of incentives to replace all filament lamps with energy saving lamps in households; investing, over a five-year period, in solar water heaters for 50,000 households and another investment programme to install 5,000 photovoltaic systems.