KUALA LUMPUR – Klang Valley residents can expect to pay between RM1.50 and RM6 more for their monthly water bills, depending on usage, when new tariffs for Selangor take effect on February 1.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who announced this, said more details on the increased rate per cubic metre would be revealed this afternoon.
“The monthly increase will be less than the price of a cup of coffee, ranging between RM1.50 and RM6, but it will not surpass RM6.50,” he was quoted as saying by Selangor Journal at a press conference in Shah Alam earlier today.
The tariff increase is expected to impact around 49% of Air Selangor account holders, he added.
“While the state will introduce measures to lighten the burden of targeted, vulnerable groups, it is appropriate that those who are able to pay should pay more for the water they use.”
The water tariff in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya for domestic consumers using residential/individual meters is currently RM6.00 as the minimum charge.
It is then 57 sen per cubic metre for the first consumption band of up to 20 cubic metres, RM1.03 per cubic metre for 20-35 cubic metre usage, and RM2.00 per cubic metre for usage above 35 cubic metres.
Different rates apply for bulk meter users (RM1.38 per cubic metre, RM173 minimum charge) and low-cost apartments (80 sen per cubic metre, RM35 minimum charge).
The tariff increase is in line with the National Water Services Commission’s (SPAN) announcement yesterday on adjustments for Peninsular Malaysia and the federal territory of Labuan.
Penang, Perlis and Negri Sembilan yesterday also announced their new tariff rates to take effect February 1.
SPAN has said the exercise is to ensure that proper maintenance and repairs of water supply infrastructure can be carried out, and that consumers are still paying well below the actual cost of treating and supplying water thanks to subsidies. – January 18, 2024