The Ministry of Energy and Health has issued a right of reply to the article “€25 compensation for households that spent more than 12 hours in the dark”, published on the 20 August edition of The Malta Independent.

The reply, written by communications officer for the Ministry of Energy and Health states: “Reference is made to the article ‘€25 compensation for households that spent more than 12 hours in the dark’, published on the 20 August edition of The Malta Independent.

“The Minister for Energy and Health referred that the €25 ex gratia payment are equivalent to 10 days or more of what the average family consumes in terms of electricity, as not as (sic) erroneously reported as groceries.

“With regards to the issue of business compensation, the Minister said that an ex gratia payment of €25 will be given to residential and domestic accounts which experienced over 12 hours power cut and not as erroneously reported in the article.

“Minister Konrad Mizzi said that he had meetings and discussions with employers’ representatives MHRA, GRGTU, MEA and the Malta Chamber of Commerce Enterprise and Industry and it was agreed that the government formulates programmes and initiatives in particular special payment programmes, a scheme on which reduction of interests for payments in arrears and other measures to make Enemalta more business friendly. Discussions on these matters are ongoing.”