Approval in two weeks
29/05/2007 By Salina Khalid

Individual meters given if all terms met.

MANAGEMENT Corporations (MCs) of high-rise residential properties in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya can now submit applications for migration from bulk water meters to individual meters.

Adopting individual metering will enable residents to enjoy lower water rates.

»It means those who use more water will have to pay more« DATUK ABDUL FATAH ISKANDAR
The MCs have to submit the applications on behalf of the individual residents to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), the company that supplies water to the Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya consumers.

“They can submit the applications now and approval will be given according to the terms and conditions included in the new guidelines for migration from bulk water meter to individual meter.

“If all the conditions are met, then they can get their approval within two weeks,” the Selangor State Infrastructure and Public Utilities committee chairman Datuk Abdul Fatah Iskandar said, adding that applications from individual residents would not be entertained.

Changing to individual water meter will allow flats, apartments and condominiums owners to pay only 57sen per cubic metre instead of RM1.38 per cubic metre for apartments and condominiums and 80sen per cubic metre for low-cost flats.

They will also be charged a minimum of RM6 per month instead of the current RM35 under the bulk metering system and will be billed according to their individual water consumption.

Under the individual meter rate, the consumers will be charged RM1.30 for usage above 20 cubic metre and RM2 per cubic metre for consumption above 35 cubic metre.

It would also mean residents will no longer have to worry about water cuts resulting from the management companies' failure to settle their bills.

Currently, Syabas issues bulk meters to the management companies for high-rise units and the companies then install their own meters for the individual units and charge the unit owners accordingly.

“The MCs have to settle all their bills and close their existing account so that they can start the new account (individual metering). Both the MCs and residents have to work together in solving their outstanding debts so that the individual meters can be issued,” Fatah said.

Those staying at government quarters could apply though the registered government agencies and those staying at estates could do so through the factory or estate owners.

Fatah was speaking after the briefing session on the newly released guidelines for migration to individual meter for high-rise residential units at Selangor State Secretariat Building yesterday.

About 200 from resident associations, developers, management corporations and Local Authorities' representatives attended the briefing session.

Also at the event were Selangor Water Monitoring Department deputy director (technical) Nik Nasim Nik Ismail and Syabas executive director Thien Kwee Sim.

The guidelines for migration from bulk water meter accounts to individual meter for high-rise residential units is published by the Selangor Water Monitoring Department (JKAS) at Level 5, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building in Shah Alam.