Water tariff adjustment: Selangor takes steps to assist affected consumers

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will take follow-up measures to assist consumers in the state affected by the water tariff adjustment that will take effect on Feb 1.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said this is because an expected 49 per cent of Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) account holders will be affected by the new tariff.

He said one of the measures included ensuring the Darul Ehsan Water Scheme (SADE) could continue.

"There are several steps that we (state government) can introduce to ease the burden of certain groups set to be affected by the water tariff adjustment. We will announce a cheaper (rate)... if I may say so here, (it's) between RM1.50 and RM6.

"With this water tariff adjustment, we will return it to the people, including replacing pipes which this year we will increase to 300 kilometres (km) (of replacement) compared to about 150km the previous year," he said after officiating the Selangor Digital School graduation ceremony here today.

The SADE is the reapportion programme to provide free water to targeted Selangor residents with a household monthly income of RM5,000 and aims to reduce the people's cost of living, especially those from the low-income group.

Yesterday, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) announced that the water tariff adjustment for domestic users in the Peninsula and the Federal Territory of Labuan will take effect on Feb 1.

The adjustment, involving an average increase of 22 cents per cubic metre, is implemented under the Tariff Setting Mechanism (TSM) where the tariff structure and components are standardised for states in the peninsula and Labuan and will be reviewed every three years to ensure consistency in the determination of fees.

Meanwhile, Amirudin said the water tariff adjustment needed to be implemented to ensure the sustainability of Air Selangor's capital and business plan for the long term.

"Almost all (water companies) and it's not just Air Selangor that need an increase in terms of capital and business plan, we need a tariff adjustment at a certain rate during certain years," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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