Tag: Zairil Khir Johari

Penang to implement new water tariff rates from July 1

GEORGE TOWN: Penang will implement new water tariff rates for domestic and non-domestic consumers starting July 1 after its implementation was postponed for 12 months. State Transport, Infrastructure and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the adjustment involved 82 percent of domestic consumers or households who use 35 cubic metres of water or less per month, with an increase of 8.5 sen or RM2.55 per month. "For the first usage range, which is the first 20,000 litres (20 cubic metres), the increase is only three sen, from 62 sen to 65 sen, while for usage of 20,000 litres to 35,000 litres (20 cubic metres to 35 cubic metres), the rate increases by 13 sen from RM1.17 to RM1.30." "However, the average calculation is made based on the use of the first 35 cubic metres because that is the benchmark commonly used in the tariff structure," he said at a press conference at Komtar, here, today. Zairil informed that despite the adjustment which saw the average domestic water rate for the first 35 cubic metres being RM0.93 per cubic metre, Penang is still the state with the cheapest water tariff. For non-domestic consumers, the average new tariff rate for the first 500 cubic metres per month is RM2.28 per cubic metre. He said the tariff adjustment was necessary to ensure sustainable water supply services and support continued investment in the development and maintenance of water infrastructure in the state. Meanwhile, Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) Chief Executive Officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the tariff adjustment did not involve houses of worship and welfare institutions, the shipping sector and other categories. He said for consumers with large households, they can apply for a rebate through the Family Friendly Rebate Scheme offered by PBAPP, which is a rebate of RM20 on every bi-monthly water bill for eligible households. On July 30 last year, the Federal Government gazetted new water rates for Penang as well as nine other states and the Federal Territory of Labuan, however, the State Executive Council has ordered PBAPP to delay the implementation of the new rates for a year until July 1, 2026. -- BERNAMA

GEORGE TOWN, June 4 — Penang will implement new water tariff rates for domestic and non-domestic consumers starting July 1 after its implementation was postponed for 12 months. State Transport, Infrastructure and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the adjustment involved 82 percent of domestic consumers or households who use 35 cubic metres of […]