Less than 1% of households had electricity disconnected over unpaid bills

Enemalta’s billing company ARMS has denied claims by Labour MEP Edward Scicluna that nearly 5% of all Maltese homes have had their electricity disconnected since 2008.

ARMS spokesperson Sean Barbara said that approximately 0.71% of all households had their electricity disconnected for non-payment of electricity bills in each of the years between 2008 and 2011. “Almost all these households subsequently had their electricity service reconnected in the period following this disconnection,” Barbara said.

The spokesperson also denied claims that households had been withheld energy coupons over unpaid bills. “Customers with energy coupons who cannot pay their bills in full are encouraged to set up an instalment plan; the energy coupons are accepted by ARMS Limited as long as the installment plan is honoured.”

Labour MEP Prof Edward Scicluna has called on the European Commission to investigate revelations that Maltese families entitled to social support are being denied energy coupons to help meet their electricity bills unless they can pay their bills in full.

“Energy poverty in Malta is a serious problem that is getting worse. But at a time when we continue to have over 100 families being disconnected from their energy supply each month we hear that some of our most vulnerable people are even being denied energy coupons to help pay instalments of their bills,” Scicluna said.

In May last year, Scicluna asked if the government was in breach of the Energy Directive, which requires Malta and all other EU countries to look after the energy security of vulnerable customers.

In response, the Commission said that it would contact the Maltese authorities for more information on the situation.

“Since then, over 5,500 households have lost their electricity.Last year the Commission told me that they would seek information on the situation from Enemalta and the government. Given that energy poverty in Malta’s continues to worsen I want to know what information was provided and whether the Commission will investigate,” Scicluna said.

“Since 2008 nearly 5% of all Maltese homes have had their electricity disconnected. This disconnection rate is very high for an EU country and it is unacceptable.”