3 -
The remaining 21 per cent will pay $6 or more per month. Of this group, about eight per cent (i.e. less than two per cent of all consumers) will have to pay more than $20 extra per month.
A comparison of the water charges for domestic consumers under the old and new tariffs is shown below:
Consumption in units
1 unit 1 cubic metre
=
12 and below
Charges per four-month period
Present ($)
New ($)
13 - 43
44-62
63 - 120
Over 120
Free
4.16 - 128.96 135.41 - 251.51 260.56 - 776.41
776.41 plus $9.05 per unit over
Free
4.51 - 139.81 146.81-272.81 282.63 - 842.37 842.37 plus $9.82 per unit over
The higher increase in the charges for non-domestic consumers, in comparison with the charges for domestic consumers, is aimed at eliminating the cross subsidy from domestic consumers to non-domestic consumers after this charges increase, the spokesman said.
"The 9.3 per cent increase for non-domestic supplies is unlikely to have any significant impact on business operations as water charges represent only a small part of the operating costs of most firms.
"For example, the new rate will increase the production cost of the bleach- dyeing industry, which is the largest consumer of water, by about 0.28 per cent and that of the entire manufacturing sector by about 0.02 per cent.
"Therefore the increase in the charges should not have any significant impact on their operations," he said.
The fees for connection and other miscellaneous services will also be increased to reflect the rise in material and labour costs. The last increases in these fees were also on February 16, 1995.
End
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