Penang water tariff up only one sen in 10 years, says state utility corp

GEORGE TOWN, April 18 — Contrary to repeated claims, water tariffs for Penang have only risen 1 sen in the last decade, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said today.

PBAPP chief executive Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa also clarified that there has only been one review of the water tariff rates in the last 10 years.

“In 2015, the average domestic water tariff for the first 35,000 litres of consumption per month was increased by RM0.01 per 1,000 litres (from RM0.31 to RM0.32 per 1,000 litres),” he said in a statement.

He said Penang’s average domestic water tariff for the first 35,000 litres per month is still the lowest in Malaysia at RM0.32 per 1,000 litres.

He pointed out that the national average is RM0.69 per 1,000 litres while Johor charges RM1.31 per 1,000 litres.

“As such, the maximum water bill for 77 per cent of households in Penang is only RM11.30 per month,” he said.

Jaseni also clarified that Penang households pay the lowest water rates nationwide, in response to the state Barisan Nasional (BN) which promised a five-year no water tariff hike for households in its GE14 manifesto.

Despite that, he said the state was able to promote water conservation awareness statewide and avoid carrying out water-rationing exercises.

He attributed the anti-rationing move to its successful introduction of the water conservation surcharge (WCS), which only penalises consumers who waste water.

In contrast, Jaseni said 77 per cent of households in Penang have been exempted from paying the WCS.

“The objective is to avoid water rationing by promoting domestic water conservation,” he said.

He said without the WCS, the per capita domestic consumption in Penang would have reached 319 l/c/d in 2017.

The Penang BN had also promised to cancel the WCS if it takes back the northern island state led by DAP since Election 2008.

“Only 23 per cent of households that use more than 35,000 litres of water per month pay the WCS,” Jaseni said, adding that households with eight persons or more now receive a 60 per cent rebate off the WCS.

Jaseni also chided the BN for announcing its plan to abolish the WCS without understanding the need and objectives of water conservation.

“Water conservation ensures no water rationing, especially during prolonged dry seasons, and it helps to ensure we have enough water,” he said.

Jaseni said BN’s water pledges in its manifesto are irrelevant and irrational.

He said poor households in Penang have been enjoying free water supply of up to 30,000 litres per month for many years.

PBAPP also provides free water pipe connections to households with a monthly income of RM770 or less per month in Penang, he added.

Other than this, he said PBAPP provides interest-free “kampung loans” to fund water pipe connections to households in villages with a monthly income of RM1,000 or less.

“Moreover, PBAPP also waives all deposits and trunk mains contributions for “Kampung Loan” connections,” he said.

PBAPP gave water bill rebates to places of worship in Penang that included mosques, churches and temples.

“In 2012, this privilege was extended to all qualified charitable organisations as well,” he said.

In 2017, 1,788 places of worship and charitable organisations were given rebates amounting to RM71,080.