First batch of approvals for water meter migration ready
24/11/2007 The Star By K.W. Mak

SYABAS gave out the first batch of approval forms for water meter migration to individual meters to condominium management corporations (MCs) recently.

The issue arose when condominium residents complained they were paying commercial rates for their water as opposed to those with landed property who paid residential rates.

How it’s done: Thein explaining the process to MC representatives.

After studying the matter, Syabas and the Selangor state government introduced a guideline for the water migration exercise on May 28.

Syabas billing and recovery division head Thein Kwee Sim said the approval forms were given out to 21 MCs after their premises had been inspected and all the necessary requirements had been adhered to.

“Some 157 condominium applications involving 43,000 units have been received by Syabas but it takes time to inspect all the premises and some of them do not qualify because their water meters are placed at odd places,” Thein said.

“For the 21 applicants, the next phase will take place after all the condominium owners have filled up the forms.”

Thein said that while one of the requirements was 100% owner and MC consent for the water migration exercise, there were exceptions including if the owner could not be reached or the unit in question is being sold.

“Once the forms are filled up by all the respective owners and consent is given, Syabas will take two weeks to a month to process the applications and convert the accounts.”

Once the conversion is done, the savings that consumers would get from using 20 cubic meters of water would be RM16.20.

Thein said the exercise will cut into the profits and increase costs to Syabas as more people need to be hired to read the meters and an increase in paper cost for printing bills, but it would overcome various problems like water cuts being done to an entire condominium when the MCs default on payment due to various reasons.

The introduction of this system would also not remove the bulk meter, as it would still be used to measure water usage in common areas of the condominium.

As of April 2007, there were a total of 2,365 bulk meters in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and some 420,000 individual meters.

Approved for conversion:
Pangsapuri Desa Tanjung (SP Setia Estate Management Sdn Bhd)
Pangsapuri D’Kiara (SP Setia Estate Management Sdn Bhd)
Villa Flora Condominium (TTDI Development Sdn Bhd)
Kiara View Apartment
Pinggiran Kiara Apartment
Taman Tun Dr Ismail Kuarters Institusi Pendidikan Residents Association
Perbadanan Pengurusan Menara Jade
Crimson Ria Management Sdn Bhd
Kuarter Jenis Apartment Fasa 11, Putrajaya
Villa Mewah Management Sdn Bhd
Central Malaya Construction Sdn Bhd
Sekolah Kebangsaan Antara Gapi
Desa Alpha Management Corporation Sdn Bhd
Kuarters Guru, SK Antara Gapi
Taman Mulia Low Cost Flat (Block A, B, C, D and G)
D’Aman Ria
Lee Man Construction Sdn Bhd