THE domestic water tariff in Penang has only been reviewed once between 2008 and 2017.
Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said the corporation implemented the water tariff review that affected domestic and trade water consumers in 2015.
“If our application for a water tariff review is approved, it will be the second,” he said, refuting allegations by certain individuals that the domestic water tariff in Penang had been reviewed about three times since 2010.
Jaseni said: “A water conservation surcharge (WCS) review cannot be regarded as a water tariff review.
“The WCS only affects domestic consumers who consumed above 35,000 litres per month, which constitutes to about 23%.
“A water tariff review affects all consumers. We have repeatedly explained but there are certain parties who refused to understand the difference.
“In 2010, PBAPP introduced the WCS at 24 sen per 1,000 litres (for domestic consumption above 35,000 litres per month). In the same year, PBAPP also implemented a trade tariff review but not the domestic tariff review.
“In 2013, PBAPP reviewed the WCS from 24 sen per 1,000 litres to 48 sen per 1,000 litres (for domestic consumption above 35,000 litres per month). There was no trade or domestic tariff review.
“PBAPP only implemented a water tariff review that affected domestic and trade water consumers in 2015,” he told a press conference in Komtar on Jan 16.
Jaseni said the per capita domestic water consumption in Penang was raising from the year 2000 to 2010, when it hit 291 litres per capita per day (l/c/d).
“The national average in 2017 was only 201 l/c/d.
“After the WCS was introduced in 2010, the state’s per capita domestic water consumption dropped to 285 l/c/d in 2011 but the value went up again to 294 l/c/d (in 2012) and 295 l/c/d (in 2013),” he said.
According to the data made available to the press, Penang recorded 293 l/c/d in 2014 and 291 l/c/d in 2015.
After the domestic and trade tariff review were implemented, the state’s per capita domestic water consumption dropped even further to 286 l/c/d (in 2016) and 276 l/c/d (in 2017).
Jaseni said that the amount of water consumption was still very high as compared to the national average per capita domestic water consumption in 2017, which was only 201 l/c/d.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow reiterated that 77% of Penang’s domestic water consumers who used less than 35,000 litres per month did not pay the WCS.
“The WCS only affects 23% of domestic water consumers in Penang who use more than 35,000 litres per month.
“Hence, WCS review is not the same as a water tariff review,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis