New water tariffs for Selangor from Sept 1 have been approved, which includes a new higher rate for data centres. There is no change in the minimum rate for households.
Condominiums, estates, and government quarters will be charged 41 sen more, at RM2.09 per cubic metre, but the minimum charge on condominiums of RM173 per month remains unchanged.
The new tariffs apply to consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, which receive treated water from Air Selangor, the Selangor water supply corporation.
Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said data centres will be charged RM5.31 per cubic metre due to their high water usage for cooling amounting to over one million litres per day in some cases.
There will be no change in the minimum tariff for households, those that use less than 20 cubic metres a month, which is still set at RM0.65 per cubic metre. The minimum charge for domestic users remains at RM6.50.
However, there is a 30 sen rise for households using 20 to 35 cubic metres, which will pay RM1.62 per cubic metre, and 88 sen more for those using more than 35 cubic metres, which will pay RM3.51 per cubic metre.
The new rate for commercial and non-domestic buildings is RM3.51 per cubic metre, up by 57 sen, while places of worship and welfare institutions will have to pay RM0.76 per cubic metre, an increase of 10 sen.
The state government will cover increased water costs for places of worship and welfare institutions at an estimated RM100,000 annually.
Amirudin said the state government considers the increased tariff essential to meet its goal of speeding up the replacement of aging asbestos pipes – 1,600km of which are over 40 years old. Starting this year, Air Selangor will increase its pipe replacement rate to 300km per year.
He said Air Selangor is building new water treatment plants in Rasau and Labohan Dagang 2, costing RM7.671 billion and RM479.52 million respectively, to meet the demands of Selangor’s growing population. These projects will boost water supply capacity by 2,730 million litres per day.
Amirudin also said the state government will continue providing free water through the Darul Ehsan water scheme to over 1.3 million residents (337,851 accounts), worth RM13 per month per account.
To ensure more households benefit, the income eligibility limit will be raised from RM5,000 to RM6,000 per month.
Amirudin said RM52.7 million will be allocated each year to support these subsidies and ensure that efforts to improve water service sustainability do not place undue financial burden on those most in need.
He said the new tariff had been approved by the Cabinet and the National Water Services Commission.
