TAIPING: The state government will continue to conduct a detailed study before implementing any decision regarding the review of water tariff rates in the state.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad who is also Perak Water Board (LAP) chairman said that as of today, the board had yet to make any decision on the rate of water tariff increase.
He said LAP was still conducting a study on the adjustment of the state water tariff and is not subject to the National Water Services Commission's (Span) decision.
"This tariff is under the authority of Span so I believe that Span has made a decision based on requests from several states. So when SPAN makes such a decision, Perak is subject to a study made by LAP in detail.
"If LAP wants to follow what is allowed by Span, then LAP needs to bring the proposal into the Board of Directors' meeting and subsequently to the state exco meeting," he said.
Saarani said this in a press conference after joining a tour to visit Section 11 of West Coast Expressway (WCE) from Beruas to Taiping (South) here, today.
He said that the final decision regarding the increase in water tariffs in the state would be made after the state exco meeting.
"This matter is not subject to 'we must follow' because we depend on the study first, to see the pros and cons.
"This study is still ongoing because it cannot be stopped at any one time as it takes into account the increasing number of users, the age of pipes, meters and so on," he said.
It was reported that new water tariffs, which will see domestic users in the peninsular and Labuan pay an average of 22 sen more for every cubic metre beginning Feb 1, are still insufficient to cover the actual cost of providing water supply services, according to Span.
In a statement today, SPAN said that based on its records in 2022, the actual cost of providing water supply services was RM1.75 per cubic metre.
Based on a review on the official website of the LAP, the water tariff charged to domestic users in Perak is currently 30 sen for consumption of zero to 10 cubic metres (m³); 70 sen (11-20m³) and RM1.03 (over 20m³).
