Higher Water Tariff

The PIRATE is on the town again starting today, 1st November 2006. In order to cover their loss, Government allow Syabas to charge us higher water rate since they are able to reduce NRW by 5%, what the heck (here)!!!

Syabas to Syabas. Forget about Ammonia Smell issue (here, here, here too), forget the quality we get, forget the filtration system that i installed at my house.....

According to him:
Some 45% of consumers, whose water consumption is below 20 cubic metres per month, will not be affected.

Who claim that 45% of consumers not affected? The minimum charge is increasing from RM 5 to RM 6 even though for those users who use less than 10 cu.m. Before the hike, if i use 8 cu.m (RM 4.56), i was charged at RM5. If i use 10 cu.m, i was charge at RM 5.70. Now, after the hike, if i use 8 cu.m, i will be charged at RM 6 (instead of RM 5). If i use 10 cu.m, i will be charged at RM 6 also (instead of RM 5.70). So it is means that the POOR will get POORER. You use less water, yet need to pay EXTRA. What say you, Syabas?

“But consumers will pay 13% more for every cubic metre used for the next 15 cubic metres and 17.6% more for every cubic metre after 35 cubic metres,” Selangor Infrastructure and Public Utilities Committee chairman Datuk Fatah Iskandar Fatah said.

He said the increase would only raise costs by 2.7% to 4.6% for medium-sized coffeeshops, which meant that they would only pay between RM4.50 and RM7.50 more a day for water.

He said small-scale laundry outlets would experience an increase of between RM40 and RM55 per month while hair salons would have to pay about RM3 more per day.

Although the increase is Small according to his defination, i am sure, damn sure the price of the service will incerease and eventually we, the consumer need to bear it again.

He said the increase was also necessary to finance works by Syabas like the upgrading of raw water treatment by switching to the latest technology so that it could provide treated water that was of a higher standard than that set by the Health Ministry.

He said the company had also replaced 300km of 800km of old and faulty pipes, many of which were over 30 years old.

Ah ha, this is the actual story why increase water tariff..... to finance a loss, high debt company to continue running. While Syabas able to reduce NRW, it is means that they are able to gain more, but the tariff is still increase. WHY? I don't see Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd increase the water tariff in fact they are the lowest in Malaysia. Or only Klang Valley need to change thier old pipes but not other states?