PL calls for retroactive energy rates

Silvio Parnis, Labour Party spokesman for consumer protection, said tariff revisions should be undertaken immediately and retroactively to 1 October. This was not only because the unions which discussed the situation with the Malta Resources Authority said that the MRA had assured them that the revision would be retroactive, but also in the light of various statements and promises by the government.

Mr Parnis said the executive head of Enemalta Corporation has written to the MRA’s chairman to say that he expected the tariffs proposal to be presented to the MRA not later than the second week of March. This means that the bills revision would not be made before that date.

Mr Parnis said the oil which Enemalta buys has since June declined by 60 per cent, though the government had bought it at only 30 per cent less. This meant that the tariffs were a plunder of the people’s earnings. The bills should be withdrawn.