The Nationalist Party candidate for the European Parliament elections, Frank Portelli has pledged to fight Enemalta's monopoly if elected in June's polls.

His pledge comes after St Philips Hospital, which he runs, lost a legal battle to stop Enemalta from suspending its electricity supply. The energy provider threatened to cut the supply unless the hospital paid its outstanding bills.

St Phillip's management applied for the issue of a warrant of prohibitory injunction, pointing out that it was contesting the bills and would therefore only settle them after a tribunal decided on the matter.

The court, however, rejected the request, saying the hospital did not provide sufficient evidence to prove it had a right not to pay the bills. Dr Portelli said the judgment clearly proved consumers were defenceless against Enemalta's monopoly.

The consumer had no choice but to pay for Enemalta's inefficiency, wastage and poor hedging decisions, he said, adding that he would take up the issue at EU level. Furthermore, he said, the people were not even protected by the consumer's office, which had not yet decided on his claim filed two years ago.

Even though the issue has nothing to do with his electoral campaign, he would be ready to make it an issue at EU level, Dr Portelli said.

He pointed out that Enemalta was not held accountable by law and the only solution was to introduce the competitive element in the sector.