Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/987872
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 30 MAY 2018 YANNICK PACE NATIONALIST Party deputy leader David Agius yesterday presented the Malta Resources Authority (MRA) with a letter asking it to investigate claims that citizens are being over- charged for their electricity. The controversy surrounding ARMS' billing methods was cast into the spot- light some weeks ago when it was re- vealed that ARMS' billing of custom- ers every two months, was resulting in some households paying more for electricity during months of high- consumption which would have oth- erwise been compensated for by low- consumption months. Using the current system, electricity tariff quotas are divided by the num- ber of bills sent during one 12-month period but no provisions are in place to refund customers paying more than they are required to. In comments to the press Agius said the regulator was now expected to in- dicate to the PN whether such an in- vestigation will be initiated. Agius, who was accompanied by Mark Anthony Sammut, said the PN had chosen to go to the MRA because the regulator had the power to investi- gate and take action on such a matter. He reiterated that, based on a sam- ple of bills seen by the PN, it appeared that people were paying between €6 and €600 more than they should for the electricity they consumed. He added that since the PN had tak- en up the cause the government had not "told them they were wrong", but rather had also asked for an investiga- tion into the claims. Asked whether any timeframe had been given by the regulator on when a decision would be taken, Aguis said the PN delegation had spoken to the secretary as the regulator was not available. He stressed, however, that it was in the people's interest that a solution to the problem is found. On Sunday, PN leader Adrian Delia pledged that a new PN government would refund any consumers who had been overcharged for their electricity use. Both Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Energy Minister Joe Mizzi have said that they have requested an inves- tigation into ARMS' billing system. ypace@mediatoday.com.mt Nationalist Party asks regulator to investigate ARMS billing system PN deputy leader David Agius (centre) said the MRA had the power to investigate ARMS' billing methods FINES for littering, dumping and putting out the wrong gar- bage bag will increase under new regulations proposed by the Environment Ministry. The regulations form part of the ministry's drive to enforce public cleanliness and prop- er waste collection through harsher fines for a range of of- fences. A public consultation document was released yes- terday by Environment Min- ister Jose Herrera and Local Councils Parliamentary Sec- retary Silvio Parnis. A new offence will be added for people who take out the wrong garbage bag for collec- tion. A wrong bag can attract a fine between €150 and €300. Taking out the garbage bag more than four hours before the scheduled collection time will also incur a similar fine. The rules covering the type of garbage bag that can be taken out are in preparation for upcoming new legislation that will oblige people to sep- arate their household waste. The new rules state that bins are to be placed in areas used by hawkers and street sellers, at the expense of the local council or the seller. Failure to do so will also incur a fine ranging between €150 and €300. The bins have to provide for separate waste streams and the rules also apply to street markets and village feasts. The rules promise to get tough on illegal dumping. The court is being given the power to order the removal of any dumped material within a period of three months from the date of judgment before empowering the local council to undertake such works and recover expenses from the of- fender. A daily penalty can be im- posed for each day the default continues after the expira- tion, which may amount to between €50 and €130 per day. The rules will all be concen- trated under the Environment Protection Act, which means that once they are approved, the Litter Act will be repealed. Enforcement will fall under the remit of the police, the Local Enforcement System Agency and the Environment and Resources Authority. The new rules have been is- sued for public consultations and feedback can be given un- til 29 June on the email con- sultations.mesdc@gov.mt. Some of the new proposals: • Right bag on the right day • Hawkers and street sellers to safeguard immediate area from litter • Waste separation dur- ing public events • Extension of aggravat- ing circumstances to include dumping in protected areas • Harsher penalties • Administrative fines Government getting tough on litter louts Littering, dumping and taking out the wrong garbage on the wrong day will attract harsher fines, according to new rules released for public consultation A 56-year-old man was seriously injured in a car accident in Triq l-Im- makulata, Bormla yester- day. At around 11am, the man, who was driving a Nissan March, collided with a BMW driven by a 30-year-old man from Fgura. The 56-year-old man from Birgu was taken to hospital where he is be- ing treated for serious injuries. A police investigation is ongoing. Man seriously injured in Bormla car accident