Labour blames power cuts on inadequate distribution system

Labour MP Joe Mizzi says the frequent power cuts this summer are the result of government’s lack of investment in the distribution system.

20 August 2012, 12:00am

1 min read

Despite Enemalta's excuses, the constant power cuts throughout summer show that the government's lack of investment and planning in the distribution system, said Opposition MP Joe Mizzi.

"The high demand caused by high temperatures has unmasked the shortcomings in the distribution system. The numerous faults show that the existing distribution system cannot keep up with the high demand for a long time," Mizzi said.

He added that if the demand was not limited due to the high tariffs, the power cuts would have been more frequent.

Mizzi said the power cuts have negatively affected industry, the commercial sector, the tourism sector and caused distress to all the people, especially children, the elderly and ill persons.

Mizzi listed five reasons for the faults in the distribution system: high demand, aged cables, infrastructural works on roads, faulty cable joints and the laying of cables.

The MP added that when the Labour Party recently raised the issue, Enemalta readily issued a statement to rebut Labour's spokespersons. However, he noted that the frequent power cuts proved Labour right.

"Instead of being partisan and defend GonziPN, Enemalta should give a clear picture of what is really happening and what are its plans to resolve the problem and prevent it from happening again," Mizzi said.

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In all honesty, I firmly believe that the lawyer-infested PN has made a dog's dinner out of the energy sector in Malta. Lawyers are trained to put facts in a different light to their real impact, but they are not trained to manage commercial enterprises. For a long time both the WSC and Enemalta were left to the whims of their top management. Board control being minimal as partisan politics infested the Boards and effective control and investment were left to commercial vested interests. Charges were kept artificially low for political advantage over so many years, that the EU finally burst this particular bubble. The result is what we are witnessing now. Extraordinarily heavy charges, inefficiency galore, bad investments decisions that load the economy with debt and little else (ARMS & Smart meters hardware and software) and in a back to the 80s' sad twist, power cuts galore as well.