The GRTU Chamber for Small Enterprises insisted again today that the government should adopt a Mitigation Plan to address high electricity costs.

Director-General Vince Farrugia said consumption should be billed on the basis of a Power Conservation Programme with a quota allocation benchmarked on usage in 2005. The allocation would be 10% for industrial consumers, 15% for commercial, 20% for hotels, resorts and shopping centres, 15% for large office buildings, 5% for agriculture and 10% for residences. There would be penalty tariff rates for energy consumption above the quotas.

He said such a power conservation programme would lead to a dramatic improvement in energy efficiency and forced behaviour change would become permanent..

As part of such behaviour change, Mr Farrugia said the government should ban the importation of incandescent lighting from January 1, 2009 and rebates should be given for the installation of solar heaters and photovoltaic panels covering at least 70% of outlay.

He said domestic tariffs should be structured so that people would opt to conserve energy.

He also called for tiered billing for businesses according to peak and off-peak use and suggested that street lighting should be gradually converted to solar and battery backup, thus reducing costs currently borne by Enemalta..

He said the GRTU continued to be against capping of electricity costs by industry, but the government could subsise these companies via funding received from excise duties on imported fuel, something which would not infringe EU law. However benchmarks should be set for such consumers so as to encourage them to invest in renewable energy.