Syabas: Tariff convertion for condo dwellers being discussed
26/01/2007 The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) hopes that guidelines to transfer bulk water tariffs to domestic tariffs for condominium dwellers will be finalised by end-February.

It added that the increase in water rates should not affect its earnings significantly.

Chief executive officer Ruslan Hassan said with about 45% of the company's 1.5 million accounts being consumers, who monthly used less than 20 cu m of water at 57 sen per cu m, there should not be huge change in Syabas' earnings figures.

Speaking after a prize presentation ceremony, Ruslan said: "We are discussing with several local authorities, such as Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Corp, on guidelines to allow condominium dwellers, who have applied, to have their rates classified as domestic."

Discussions have been held since last November and Syabas hoped the guidelines on the switch would be finalised by end of next month, he said.

Ruslan also said Syabas was keen to continue with its asbestos cement pipes replacement project, adding that about 6,000km of its 21,000km of pipes "needed" to be replaced, with a completion target of 2010.

Syabas last year embarked on the first phase of its pipe replacement project to be completed by end-2007 and involving 897km.

As at Jan 26, it had replaced 342km.

"Last year, the project cost us about RM700mil," Ruslan said.