Cheaper bills prompt customers to beat the meter reader

If you’re even remotely thinking about beating the meter reader, think twice: because if you’re caught, tough fines will come your way.

Consumers who tried to ‘outsmart’ Enemalta by having their smart meters hacked into, was recently uncovered and 400 clients came forward for an amnesty – according to Enemalta, an estimated €10 million in unpaid bills, interest and fines will be clawed back.

But ever since the reduction of energy tariffs came into force, consumers have been tempted to embark on a new road to pay cheaper bills: ‘post’ their own meter reading outside the door for the meter reader to collect.

It’s not a common trend, but consumers who are not at home when the meter reader is scheduled to arrive to read their energy meter, can leave a note by the door with their latest energy consumption units.

It’s a straightforward practice: the meter reader inputs the units declared by the consumer for the period, and an energy bill is then despatched.

Only that on 31 March, energy bills for residential users went down under Labour’s new energy plan: so consumers who knew the meter reader was coming, opted to post their own meter reading, albeit with a lower consumption than usual.

This means that their latest reading would be billed according to the old ‘expensive’ tariff.

At their next reading, they will declare all their consumed energy units at the new ‘cheaper’ tariff.

A spokesperson for ARMS Ltd, Enemalta’s billing arm, has confirmed that the entity has undertaken a process of “fast-track meter reading”.

Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi has also gone on record saying that the entity planned to have the majority of energy meters covered by May.

“Currently ARMS is undertaking a process of fast-track meter reading. Additional resources were brought in so that we could ensure that Malta and Gozo are covered within the agreed timeframe,” an ARMS spokesperson told MaltaToday.

“Consumers who have been fitted with an activated smart meter will not be visited, as readings are being received remotely.”

The spokesperson added that ARMS Ltd, Enemalta and Water Services Corporation have adopted “all the measures” in order to be able to detect any attempt at fraud.

“If such cases result, we will be taking legal procedures against those involved,” the spokesperson warned.

The government has already announced that penalties were being reviewed and fines harshened. Although ARMS would not divulge what these measures were, MaltaToday is informed that this would include random spot checks.

The 25% reduction in electricity tariffs and the 5% reduction in water tariffs came into force on 31 March. The first reduced bills will be issued during the third week of April. The bills issued during the first two weeks of April will be for energy consumed during the last 15 days of March.

Consumers may also receive crossover bills: a bill with the old and new rates. The bill will come with a sheet that will give a breakdown of the energy consumed and the rates applied.