At a meeting held on Friday evening and attended by Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi, James Davis, CEO of ARMS, Mathew Grech, Lawyer for ARMS and Patricia Graham of the ‘Up in ARMS’ lobby group, Mr Davis announced the news that “all consumers would now be treated as Maltese Nationals in order that there would be no differentiation in tariffs between Maltese Nationals and other Nationalities.”
The meeting came about as a result, the Group said, “of ongoing efforts by the ‘Up in ARMS’ group to end the two tier, higher Domestic tariff that many EU Nationals, were subjected to.”
Mr Davis said that a Maltese National was only required to show an ‘M’ ID card when applying for utilities, which like the ‘A’ ID card was expired. but extended, and in order to treat everyone in the same manner the ‘A’ ID card or the new e-res-card would now be accepted by ARMS.
It was noted that children not in possession of the ID card would have to present birth certificates, which are already required for the new e-res-card.
The ‘Up in ARMS’ Group added that “the downside, and efforts will continue in this area, is that this decision will not help those tenants who are billed directly by their Landlord and those whose landlords refuse to either register tenants or place the bills in the name of the tenant and it is up to this Group to push forward with their goals to inform and educate anyone considering renting a property in Malta. Questions must be asked before signing a lease, as in, will the Landlord agree to registering tenants etc.”
“This is not over, there is still much to do, the two tier tariff is illegal under EU Law,” the Group said.
“We may have room to celebrate this small step and many will benefit from the decisions taken last night, but we must fight on until the Domestic rate is abolished,” the Up in ARMS’ Group concluded.
5 Comments To "No differentiation between nationalities when it comes to utilities"
#1 Comment By David Reiling On November 30, 2013 @ 12:40 pm
well done Up In Arms group – but its jiust the start of a bigger fight. good luck with all that you do.
#2 Comment By John Middlemas On November 30, 2013 @ 3:38 pm
The only sensible action is to abolish registration of persons on an ARMS account. Registration is against privacy and landlords do not permit it for fear of unpaid Tax discovery. A rationing system can be achieved using total units per property rather than per person. This may be less accurate but is so much less trouble. Having to cancel and redo registration every time you move property is mindless.
#3 Comment By David Reiling On December 1, 2013 @ 9:51 am
absolutely agree – i have had to prove my residency every time i have moved and its ridiculous..
#4 Comment By Oisin Jones-Dillon On November 30, 2013 @ 4:34 pm
This is only the end of the beginning:
1) As far as the private rented accommodation sector is concerned, the ONLY feasible solution is that non-Maltese EU / EEA / Swiss citizens as well as Third-Country Nationals be permitted to register themselves as household consumers with ARMS Ltd. – merely for the purpose of availing of the much cheaper ‘residential’ water and electricity consumption tariffs and all their attendant benefits – WITHOUT having to obtain the prior written permission or signed endorsement of the (tax-evading) landlord who remains as the account holder.
Please note that:
A) The ‘domestic’ electricity consumption tariff is 30% more expensive than the ‘residential’ one.
B) The ‘domestic’ water consumption tariff is at least 56% more expensive than the ‘residential’ one.
C) Unlike the ‘residential’ scheme, eco-reductions are not applied to the ‘domestic’ electricity consumption tariff.
D) Unlike the ‘residential’ scheme, one-off energy allowance cheques are not payable in respect of the ‘domestic’ water and electricity consumption tariff.
E) Unlike the ‘residential’ scheme, EU-funded photovoltaic (PV) panel subsidies are not payable in respect of the ‘domestic’ water and electricity consumption tariff.
See section D – Documentation – on the ‘Change in number of persons declaration’ – which can be accessed by clicking on this internet link:
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2) In the matter of prosecuting the Maltese authorities vis-à-vis ongoing systemic institutional discrimination against non-Maltese EU / EEA / Swiss citizens as well as Third-Country Nationals, there is still much to be done:
Please see the ever-increasing (and incomplete) catalogue of systemic institutional (price) discrimination against non-Maltese EU / EEA / Swiss citizens as well as Third-Country Nationals as follows:
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3) The many instances of systemic institutional discrimination against non-Maltese EU / EEA / Swiss citizens as well as Third-Country Nationals feature among the hundreds of ‘Reasons for signing’ which are appended to this online petition:
“EU Commission: Stop the discrimination of EU Nationals in Malta”:
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#5 Comment By Alan On December 1, 2013 @ 6:01 pm
From what date is this effective ?