SEREMBAN: Water rates for domestic use in Negri Sembilan will be raised by 17% to 29% from Feb 1 depending on usage, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
He said an increase is necessary as the rates were last revised 22 years ago, and added that the state government has no choice but to increase the rates so that Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan (Sains) can continue to provide water to consumers.
"Sains had asked for a revision several times but we did not allow it. We cannot afford to keep delaying this," he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting at Wisma Negri on Wednesday (Jan 17).
Aminuddin said consumers who use up to 20 cubic meters of water per month would from Feb 1 be charged 71sen per cubic metre compared to 55sen now.
Those consuming between 20 cubic meters and 35 cubic metres will pay RM1.09 sen per cubic metre against 85sen 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.
He said Sains 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 was 22 cubic metres per month, and on this he said the new rates will see an increase of RM3.68 or 12 sen in consumers’ water bills
Aminuddin said Sains will get an additional revenue of RM1.2mil a month following the increase and this will be used to improve water treatment and distribution in the state.
He added that Sains also had to increase the rates as the price of chemicals needed to treat water, parts and maintenance cost have 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 has caused our non-revenue water rate to go up to 35%,"he said.
With the additional cash, Sains will be able to replace the old pipes in stages.
Aminuddin also advised consumers to harvest rain water to water their plants or to wash their cars.
Treated water, he said, was to only be used for drinking and cooking and to wash clothes.
"We have an option to be prudent but some of us would waste water as it is still cheap. I must say that this increase is reasonable as we last had a revision 22 years ago," he added.
