ARMS Ltd yet to collect €160 million in unpaid utility bills

€160 million in unpaid utility bills remain to be collected by ARMS Ltd, the state's billing company.

Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said this was just one of the serious problems which the company was facing, including having fallen behind in the distribution and installation of smart meters.

In three months, the government had increased the number of installed meters in residential homes from 42,000 to 66,000, Mizzi added.

"But there are still more to be done at ARMS. The Prime Minister is not happy with the situation... I am not happy with the situation," he said.

Taking part in a public consultation meeting organised by the Office of the Prime Minister marking Labour's first 100 days in government, Mizzi also announced the setting up of a board to tackle complaints raised by Enemalta workers.

There were workers who felt they had been treated unfairly, Mizzi said.

"I cannot respond to your claims myself but a board will be set up to hear these complaints and decide what course of action to take," he said, in response to an intervention raised by an Enemalta worker who complained of receiving several transfers just because he "lacked the blue certificate".

Fielding questions on natural resources, Mizzi said government will be launching a national water plan next year.  "It will be a bipartisan plan and tomorrow the Cabinet is set to discuss its terms of reference," the Minister said.

In his opening comments, Mizzi urged the stakeholders "not to underestimate government's resolve" in addressing the energy sector.

The minister said he saw great potential in using renewable energy in Gozo, especially during the day. He expressed hope that the sister island could become self-sufficient in this sense.

"By September, the government would have launched a renewable energy plan."