Shah alam: Two categories of consumers in Selangor are expected to be spared from the upcoming water tariff hike, as announced by the state Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman, Datuk Izham Hashim.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the two categories include recipients of the Skim Air Darul Ehsan (SADE) free water programme, which benefits the B40 group, and domestic and commercial users consuming less than 20 cubic metres of water. The tariff adjustment marks the second phase of a water tariff increase that came into effect on February 1, 2024.
The first phase, implemented earlier this year, involved a slight adjustment for the commercial sector and domestic users. The second phase, initially planned for July 1, has been slightly delayed, pending approval from the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
On January 19 last year, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced the revised water tariff rates, affecting over eight million consumers as of February 1, 2024. The adjustment impacts 2,661,743 accounts, covering domestic and non-domestic users, including houses of worship, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and multinational corporations.
The minimum charge for domestic users, including those in low-cost housing, condominiums, estates, and government quarters, will see a slight increase from RM6 to RM6.50. Izham further explained that the state government had applied to SPAN for a tariff increase, implemented in stages since last year, due to the large consumer base.
The water utility company, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor), has been operating at a financial loss due to stagnant tariffs. The proposed increase aims to enable Air Selangor to continue its operations effectively, given the substantial expenditure required for water management.
Earlier today, the Selangor government engaged with SPAN to discuss water regulation issues in the state. The session, led by Amirudin and attended by Air Selangor, coincided with the visit of SPAN chairman Datuk Abdul Kadir Mohd Din to the Menteri Besar’s office.
Yesterday, SPAN revealed in a statement that it had received tariff review applications from water service operators in 10 states, including Selangor. As of June 30, applications from operators in Penang, Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, and Selangor are under review, with no final decisions made yet.