PENANG has urged consumers to be mindful that despite more than a 100% hike in water tariffs this year, the rates remain the second lowest in the country.
Following complaints over the tariff increase, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the rates were still affordable.
Opposition party Gerakan said it had received more than 50 complaints in recent days about high water charges.
Its public complaints bureau head, Andrew Ooi said many were dissatisfied that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA) was still using the old bi-monthly billing method, which made it more expensive for households.
Chow said PBA had recorded some 300 complaints but that it would continue to educate users about the rate hike.
He said the profits would be used to fund water security efforts.
Chow repeated PBA’s statement that that the new water tariff rates were approved by the National Water Services Commission.
The new rate of 62 sen for the first 20 cubic metres of water is the second lowest in the country, he said.
Chow said the rate hike is necessary for PBA to implement numerous capital infrastructure projects under its water contingency masterplan to raise the state’s water resilience against climate change.
“This bi-monthly system was implemented in the 1990s and actually, this bi-monthly billing helps to lower the consumer’s bill compared to monthly billing,” he said in a press conference today.
Chow said bi-monthly billing leads to savings from a few ringgit to up to RM10 and RM15.
He said divided by the number of people in a household, the new rate works out to only 20 sen per day for each person.
“I know people won’t like this explanation; it is a fact that even if the tariff rate has increased, the cost is only two cents per day per individual on average,” he said.
The new rates are 62 sen for the first 20 cubic metres (up 182% from 22 sen); RM1.17 for the second band above 20 cubic metres to 35 cubic metres (up 154% from 46 sen) and RM2.07 for the third band of more than 35 cubic metres. – April 27, 2024.
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