Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green Party said the backdated electricity surcharge which is being changed every two months was increasing problems for families since it was causing uncertainty.

In a statement, AD spokesman Ralph Cassar said it was not fair that the surcharge was being changed so frequently. In addition to this, the surcharge was backdated and was thus being imposed on electricity which would have already been consumed.

Mr Cassar said families and entrepreneurs cannot plan their expenses related to electricity. He said the 67.5 per cent surcharge for March and April also means that consumers will be paying the surcharge on a substantial amount of the consumption since December when the last reading was taken. This means that the government will be collecting more than it predicted, he said.

AD chairman Harry Vassallo said the first thing that needs to be done is the modernisation of the power stations, especially that one in Marsa which according to the government should have been closed down in 2004 if it was not within the European Union's standards of pollution.