Splitting the bill: Air Selangor contractors installing a brand new individual water meter in place of a bulk meter at an apartment in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
Migration delay at Klang Valley properties due to high installation cost, say management bodies
THOUSANDS of residents living in Putra Ria Apartment in Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, were left high and dry recently when water supply to their apartment units was disconnected, supposedly for failing to settle their outstanding water bills.
The move riled up residents who have been paying their bills diligently for years.
Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil, who is also Communications and Digital Minister, had to intervene and help solve the matter.
Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) said it was forced to cut the water supply as about RM170,000 in water bills had not been paid by the apartment residents.
Air Selangor has pushed for the migration of bulk meters to individual ones for almost 20 years. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON & YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Apart from the accumulated water bills, residents also owed the Putra Ria joint management body (JMB) RM2.47mil in maintenance fees.
It is common for utility providers such as Air Selangor and Tenaga Nasional or even JMBs to cut water or power supply to condominiums and apartment units to compel errant residents and tenants to pay up.
However, many feel this form of punishment is unfair to those who have promptly settled their bills, as they are forced to suffer the consequences because of a selfish few.
In the case of Putra Ria, over 50% of residents and tenants had not been paying their bills.
Siew: We can only advise management companies to communicate with residents prior to the migration.
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Of course, this would not have been an issue had the apartment’s JMB migrated from bulk to individual water meters.
Had they done that, it would have been easier to go after individual errant owners, instead of having to resort to drastic measures that affect all residents.
Air Selangor is currently liaising with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Putra Ria Apartment JMB to facilitate the migration of bulk to individual meters.
Meter migration
Air Selangor has been pushing for the migration from bulk to individual meters for almost 20 years, since water supply distribution in the Klang Valley was privatised in 2005.
On Feb 1, 2014, the migration of meters was made compulsory under the Water Services Industry Rules 2014 (Water Reticulation and Plumbing).
Anyone failing to comply with this is committing an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM10,000.
However, enforcing this was under the jurisdiction of the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), and it was no easy task convincing even a handful of people to pay up, let alone hundreds.
Bulk water meters and new individual meters (below) after the migration.
As of February this year, there are 2,300 domestic bulk meter water supply account holders in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor registered with Air Selangor.
Selangor recorded a higher number of applications for migration to individual meters with 1,267 applications, whereas Kuala Lumpur recorded 567.
“We have successfully migrated 248,034 individual accounts from bulk meters since the meter migration programme started in 2008,” said Air Selangor acting director and operations head Kelvin Siew Weng Hoe.
“Out of the 2,300 bulk meter account holders, 1,800 have already migrated, that is 79%.
“We still have 21% to reach out to and the challenge is always about cost,” he said.
This did not include new developments, he said, adding that new housing projects would enjoy automatic migration.
“The new ones will have to register with us and this only applies to residential units.
“It does not include serviced apartments on commercial land.
“For serviced apartments, there are no individual meters,” said Siew.
Costs involved
All applications for individual meter accounts must be through the JMB or management corporation (MC) and it is their responsibility to submit the migration application to Air Selangor.
According to Siew, there are two types of costs involved in meter migration – the first is the cost of modification work to the meter stand.
The other is miscellaneous costs such as paying the deposit to open an account with Air Selangor, which is RM132.10 for medium-cost apartment or condo and RM112.10 for low-cost flat.
The account holder also has to pay installation, stamping and processing fees.
On the modification to meter stand, Siew said the specifications must follow the Water Services Industry Rule and the costs shall be borne by the JMB or MC.
“Here is where the problem lies. It costs money to modify the meter stand and to relocate it, as many old meter stands are located in areas that are not safe or conducive for Air Selangor staff to access.
“The JMB or MC is also responsible for appointing a plumber or contractor registered with SPAN, to carry out the modification work,” he elaborated.
For example, in old apartments, the water meter stand is located in inaccessible areas that make it not only difficult but also dangerous for his team to access in the case of leakages or repair works.
“Obviously, a certain level of modification is required to the existing fittings to enable the individual meters to be installed by Air Selangor, hence this is going to incur cost which will be borne by the applicant,” he said.
He also highlights that Air Selangor does not get involved in modification works, but the company expects JMBs and MCs to follow the standard drawings required for the work.
Water meter stands that were installed outside the balcony have been modified and moved towards the corridor for safety reasons.
“JMBs and MCs are free to appoint their own contractors or plumbers as long as they are registered licence-holders with SPAN,” said Siew.
He said it was the prerogative and responsibility of the JMB and MC to appoint a contractor and it was also important that the condo management communicate with the residents as they were the ones footing the bill.
“Due diligence and transparency is crucial.
“We have received letters and calls regarding meter migration.
“Some of the feedback was that it was costly. We can only advise management companies to communicate with residents prior to migration,” he said.
Siew added that residents must be provided with all the information, including selection of contractors, and JMBs and MCs must prove they had no interest at hand.
Mutual benefits
After the meter migration, apartment residents will enjoy domestic water tariffs.
The applicant will have an individual meter water supply account under their name.
Payment for water bills can be made personally over the counter, online or through other platforms provided by Air Selangor.
Consumers can enjoy a lower water tariff rate compared to those under the non-domestic rate (see chart).
“Apart from the reduction in rates, we can take action against errant owners directly.
“There are many apartment and flat dwellers who owe us millions of ringgit in unpaid bills and we have arranged for instalments of up to 24 months.
“Water is the most precious resource and yet people tend to take it for granted, because it is so cheap here,” he said, hoping this mentality would change in time.
