The 11 trade unions which have been opposing the utility tariffs this evening called for steeper reductions than those proposed by Enemalta Corporation yesterday.

They also criticised Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt for announcing Enemalta's proposed tariffs without waiting for the Malta Resources Authority, as the regulator, to consider them.

The unions said they were calling on the Malta Resources Authority to consider the revision in the context of proposals which they had made, which included a backdated revision to October 2008; deeper reductions in line with the drop in oil prices and adjustments to enable more households to qualify for the eco-reduction.

The unions said they would comment further once the MRA announced its position.

Enemalta said yesterday it was proposing reductions of the energy tariffs which would average 22 percent. Dr Gatt said this afternoon that water tariffs would not be reduced. He also rejected any backdated revisions.

The PL yesterday called for the energy tariffs to be reduced by 30 percent, a proposal which Dr Gatt said was unrealistic.