When patience starts to vanish

Enemalta’s explanation for the widespread power cut last week was that it was caused by human error, while work was being carried out at Enemalta’s facility in Magħtab. 

The error destabilised the grid and automatically triggered the safety mechanism that shuts off parts of the network to safeguard the infrastructure from unnecessary damage. Enemalta said the regassification plant at Delimara was also shut down as a result of the automatic system, causing a sudden drop in electricity supply. 

As a result, large parts of Malta and almost all of Gozo ended up without power just after 8am. The outage lasted a some four hours at most in some localities and yet it still caused disruption to daily life. 

Human errors happen and sometimes are unavoidable. But when Malta experiences a significant power outage like last week’s hot on the heels of two similar, relatively short-lived, interruptions, that in turn came after massive electricity outages in the hot summer months, patience starts to vanish and every explanation starts to feel hollow. 

In a country with Europe’s fastest growing economy it is not unreasonable to expect a stable, uninterrupted electricity supply throughout the year. The country should not have to worry whether electricity is available when the light switch is flipped on, the office computer is started, the industrial machine is producing, the server is connected and the conference room air conditioning is switched on before the guests arrive. 

Whether the disruptions are the result of human error, a power station that tripped, or antiquated distribution cables that are giving up under the strain, it is pretty obvious that this country requires much more investment in its energy infrastructure. 

During his pre-budget document presentation, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said that government will be complementing the massive outlay on energy subsidies to keep consumer prices stable with a €75 million allocation to Enemalta for network improvements.  

Whether the amount indicated by Caruana is enough to replace the aged parts of the distribution system, while adding new capacity and flexibility to the network, remains to be seen. Engineers and technicians at Enemalta argue in private that the sum would not suffice to cover the required investment. 

Enemalta has an action plan to strengthen the distribution network through various investments. However, the serious disruptions experienced this summer suggest that Enemalta is still way off its mark from achieving the reliability a modern country desires. This is more so in Gozo where it is only now that a much-needed 132kV submarine cable connecting the island to Malta is being considered. Gozo needed that cable yesterday before construction started booming. 

In a parliamentary reply last July, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said Enemalta invested €140 million in the electricity distribution network between 2023 and 2025. However, she did not specify how the money was spent despite the parliamentary question by Opposition MP Mark Anthony Sammut asking her for a breakdown. The minister needs to be more transparent than that in outlining the challenges ahead, how they are being tackled, and where the money is being spent. 

But this is an issue that transcends the Energy Ministry. This is a whole-of-government issue. Is Enemalta privy of the impending tourist projects and the load they will place on its infrastructure? Is there a contingency plan to mitigate demand at peak summer times and at the height of heatwaves? Is there any coordination with Infrastructure Malta to ensure roads are resurfaced appropriately whenever they are ripped up to repair faults or lay new electricity cables? Is there adequate monitoring of solar panel installations on households to ensure the electricity fed into the grid does not destabilise localised networks? Is there a concerted effort to sensitise people not to waste electricity? Are there schemes that are adequately funded and reliable to encourage households to adopt energy-saving measures and shift to energy-efficient appliances? Within all areas of government is enough being done to ensure workplaces are energy-efficient? 

These are only some of the questions that require clear answers from Dalli and her Cabinet colleagues. 

But then there is also another aspect, which keeps being overlooked. Is the energy regulator doing its job properly to oversee the sector and protect consumers? The answer to this is a clear no. Indeed, the regulator is good as a fish out of water. 

In a monopolistic environment, the regulator should be extra vigilant to protect consumers from abusive behaviour. The regulator must demand answers from Enemalta whenever there is an outage of significant proportions. And compensation to customers for power outages and inadequate supply must not depend on the goodwill of the minister or the company. Compensation must be automatic, according to a structure laid down by the regulator that also includes penalties if Enemalta fails to comply. 

After all, we are supposed to be living in a modern European country, where electricity is not a privilege but a daily necessity.