GEORGE TOWN: Under fire for raising water tariffs effective April 1, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA) clarified that most of its users would pay less than RM12 a month after the hike.
PBA chief executive officer Jaseni Maidinsa said seven out of 10 domestic users will pay RM11.30 or less.
“Please note that RM11.30 is much less than what the majority of Penang households would pay monthly for electricity, petrol, telephone, mobile phone, internet access and satellite television bills,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Jaseni added that the average domestic water tariff was at 32 sen per 1,000 litres, for consumption of up to 35,000 litres a month.
“RM0.32 per 1,000 litres is less than half of the national average of RM0.66 per litre in 2013.
“In other words, the majority of Penang households are paying less than half of the amount that the average Malaysian household pays for water supply monthly,” he said.
Recently, PBA announced a tariff hike across the board ranging from 16 to 97 per cent, effective April 1.
PBA stressed that the hikes were to curb wastage and avoid a possible water rationing exercise during dry spells.
Penang has recorded the highest water usage in the country.
PBA’s proposal in July last year to revise the tariffs was endorsed by the National Water Services Commission and given the nod by the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.