Energy price a major worry

A survey published yesterday by the European Commission shows that the Maltese are extremely worried about the price of electricity and are doing their utmost to reduce their consumption.

The Maltese topped the list of EU nationalities for the number who view energy as the most important issue facing their country.

The survey, part of the EU's Eurobarometer series, was conducted in Malta by Misco among 500 participants last June to gauge perceptions on the use of various energy sources.

At that time the government surcharge on electricity stood at 64 per cent, the second highest level since the introduction of the tariff in January 2005. Since then it has dropped slightly, down to 54 per cent this month.

The current warm winter weather also means that energy consumption is down and may not present such an immediate worry for some consumers.

Forty-one per cent of Maltese respondents said they saw energy as the most important current issue, far above the 21 per cent who said it was protection of the environment. Across the EU only 14 per cent saw energy as the number one issue.

Malta also placed first when respondents were asked to state whether they had tried to reduce their energy consumption over the past 12 months.

Seventy-one per cent of the Maltese admitted they were cutting down on the use of lighting and domestic appliances. The EU average on this front was only 48 per cent.

Forty-seven per cent of Maltese respondents said they had cut down on heating and the use of air conditioners. Asked to mention what priority the government should have in its energy policy, 63 per cent answered it should be "guaranteed low prices" for consumers. Only 30 per cent said that the top priority should be the environment.

The Maltese, according to the survey results, also fear that the price of energy will continue to rise over the next three years. More than half think it is very likely that prices will double in three years' time, a view shared by only 33 per cent of EU citizens.

Although Malta produces all its electricity capacity through the use of gas and oil, a good chunk of the Maltese population still think that coal is being used for the production of energy. Thirty-three per cent mention coal as one of the sources of energy when it was discontinued more than a decade ago.