Enemalta employees following union directives continue to refuse to install export meters for hundreds of angry families who invested in the partially government-sponsored photovoltaic scheme.
The families are fuming, as the meters would allow them to benefit from their investment.
Apart from the environmental cost, the General Workers’ Union directive over a collective agreement dispute means those who installed PV systems had either not yet started generating electricity from them, or were illegally connected to the grid without export meters.
The photovoltaic system uses solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. A net metering system offsets consumption with production and pays for any surplus.
However, most consumers opted to switch to a feed-in system, whereby they receive money from Enemalta for the electricity they generate.
One of the main PV suppliers, who preferred to remain unnamed, said several clients were disappointed at the lack of information about whether those who invested in PV systems would be compensated.
He insisted the parties involved should gauge the financial implications arising from the dispute and come up with a solution as soon as possible.
Such discrepancies, he insisted, could have a negative effect on the industry if customers started doubting future schemes.
As consumers fume, Enemalta and GWU officials continue to blame each other for the delay.
An Enemalta spokesman said the GWU is solely responsible for the delay in the installation of new meters and the processing of applications. The corporation added that the directives are intended to target Enemalta’s clients and cause maximum inconvenience.
Last week in Parliament, Labour environment spokesman Leo Brincat asked if any compensation was planned for all those who had paid thousands for the installation of PV systems but had not yet had an export meter installed.
But the Enemalta spokesman said there is very little that could be done until the resolution of the case by the tribunal, and “since this is not within the corporation’s control, compensation for these delays, which would have to be borne by the rest of Enemalta’s clients through an increase in the tariff, cannot be considered”.
GWU section secretary Jason Deguara said the union did consider the impact its industrial action would have on PV clients.
He accused Enemalta of lacking goodwill over a collective agreement which concerns 1,700 workers, and of delaying the case by taking the matter to a tribunal.
“The GWU has always been open for a solution. We’re ready to cancel all appointments and meet at once to find a solution,” Mr Deguara said.
There were more than 2,000 applications for the installation of photovoltaic systems, for which the government granted a subsidy of up to €3,000. If one considered a feed-in tariff of 25c, the lost generation of electricity would amount to €1.3 million.
A St Julian’s resident said: “Several weeks on, I’m still waiting for a €3,000 refund, which is not an insignificant amount. Plus, my PV system has been giving Enemalta free electricity for two months”.