Owners of illegal boathouses are once again being urged to apply for a temporary electricity supply at a cost of €1,460, Enemalta said yesterday.

The corporation said this was part of its ongoing commitment to continue to reduce electricity consumption irregularities.

Customers are requested to pay a €460 application fee and a €1,000 deposit on consumption.

They will also need to apply for a renewal of service every year against payment of an additional €230 fee and settlement of all pending dues. The applications are being received by ARMS Ltd.

Owners of boathouses at Armier, in the limits of Mellieħa, and St Thomas Bay, Marsascala, last year benefited from the same scheme, introduced by Enemalta as an attempt to reduce electricity consumption irregularities, in-cluding illegal sharing of electricity supply connections, and to minimise losses in these areas.

Over 200 suspected irregularities were removed by Enemalta after thorough inspections of the two areas were carried out with the introduction of the scheme.

Initial estimates based on electricity consumption registered this summer indicate that in previous years, Enemalta lost over 40 per cent of potential revenues from electricity at these locations.

The regulations say the arrangement will not grant the applicants any right or entitlement of any nature on the property in question and Enemalta reserves the right to terminate the temporary electricity supply with immediate effect and without need of judicial recourse or any obligation or liability for compensation or damages of any type or nature.

Last year, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced that boathouse owners would be given smart meters as a means for Enemalta to crack down on electricity theft.

The Opposition has criticised this, arguing that such a move will legitimise illegal structures. Electricity theft is unlawful and can be punishable with a prison term.