Aminuddin: Tariff was last revised 22 years ago
Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan will raise its water rates for domestic users from 17% to 29% from Feb 1 and the increase is both reasonable and long overdue, says Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
The Mentri Besar said the increase was necessary as the tariff was last revised 22 years ago.“We have no choice but to increase the rates so that state water concessionaire Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan (Sains) can continue to provide quality treated water to consumers.
“Sains had several times asked for a revision previously, but we did not allow it. Now, we can’t afford to keep delaying this,” he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting at Wisma Negri here.
Aminuddin said from Feb 1, consumers who use up to 20 cubic metres of water per month would be charged 71 sen per cubic metre, up from 55 sen currently.
Those consuming between 20 and 35 cubic metres will pay RM1.09 per cubic metre against 85 sen now and those who use above 35 cubic metres will be charged RM1.64 against RM1.40 at present.The monthly minimum charge will also be increased from RM5 to RM7.10.
Aminuddin said 86% or 409,219 accounts in the state were for domestic use. Sains, he added, would continue to subsidise 93,909 domestic accounts which used less than 20 cubic metres per month as the new rate was below the company’s operational cost of between RM1 and RM1.10 per cubic metre.The average household water consumption in the state is 22 cubic metres per month.
The new rates, he said, would see an increase of RM3.68 or 12 sen in consumers’ water bills.
Aminuddin said Sains would get an additional revenue of RM1.2mil a month following the increase and this would be used to improve water treatment and distribution. He said the concessionaire also had to increase the rates as the prices of chemicals needed to treat water, parts and maintenance had all gone up.
“Sains can no longer afford to operate if the current rates are maintained. It also has to bear the cost to replace old pipes, which have caused our non-revenue water rate to go up to 35%.
“With the additional cash, Sains will be able to replace the old pipes in stages,” he said.