Eleven trade unions have called for the resignation of the resources regulator, saying they were shocked by the Malta Resources Authority's denial of what was said during their meeting yesterday afternoon.

The unions yesterday said they had been told by the MRA that it would order a revision of the water and electricity tariffs, backdated to October 1. The authority immediately issued a denial, and reiterated its denial today.

The unions, which include the GWU, the MUT and the MUMN, said they stood by what they said at their press conference, insisting that MHRA officials had confirmed, four times, that the revisions were to be backdated to October.

The union representatives said they would make a sworn declaration confirming what they were told.

They asked what had happened after the meeting.

Meanwhile, the MRA in its statement said it never promised and never gave the impression that it would recommend a backdated revision of the tariffs. Its officials had made a detailed technical presentation on how the tariffs were audited and the impact on consumers.

The authority reiterated that at the next scheduled revision it would consider changes on the basis of oil price movements and other changes to benefit consumers.

The authority said some union representatives might not be fully aware how revisions are made and had therefore thought that the revisions would involve bills which had already been issued. However the MRA officials had turned down a request by the unions for the issue of bills to be made until the next revision is made.

The same presentation was made to journalists yesterday afternoon, and had any backdated revision been considered, it would have had every interest to announce it there, the MRA said.

The authority said it was prepared to meet the unions again to clear their difficulties.

See also:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090131/local/rate-revisions-one-meeting-two-versions