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Karen
Montbrun
BY
ASHA JAVEED
President of the T&T Manufacturers’ Association
(TTMA) Karen de Montbrun said yesterday that any increase
in water rates must come with improved service.
She made the comment in response to news that the Water
and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) has applied to the Regulated
Industries Commission (RIC) for a rate increase of more
than 100 per cent across the board.
“I
know that there is a lot of infrastructure work that needs
to be done and Wasa has to get the funds to do this. But
any increase must come with improved service. There must
be a commitment to improved service,” she said.
She noted that the company suffers extensive leakage and
that this should be corrected.
“A
100 per cent increase is a bit too much to stomach. I know
there must be an increase but it should be reasonable. We
cannot accept 100 per cent at any point in time. The public
must be involved in this,” she said.
De Montbrun does not believe that everyone who is using
water is actually paying for it. She said this issue should
also be addressed while the RIC conducts its rate determination.
She acknowledged it would be an additional cost of doing
business.
Last year, industrial consumers of electricity were required
to pay higher rates after a rate review conducted by the
RIC, but residential users were spared. With water rates
expected to increase, de Montebrun said that the regional
rates of doing business needs to be given consideration.
She noted that the cost of T&T's electricity was one
of the lowest in the region.
The RIC is investigating Wasa’s request for a rate
increase. As part of that exercise it will look at the most
efficient cost that should be borne by consumers.
The RIC said it accepted the final business plan from Wasa
on December 18, 2007.
The RIC will hold consultations with the public and stakeholders
from February to April and expects to have a draft determination
by June. A final determination will be presented to the
Government in August.
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