PUB METER READERS

Haji Rahmat Bin Kenap asked the Minister for National Development and Communications whether the meter readers employed by the Public Utilities Board at present are enough to read all meters in every district and, if not, whether the Board is considering the recruitment of more meter readers as complaints have been received from some constituents that the charges for public utilities based on estimates were not accurate.

The Minister for National Development and Communications (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Utilities Board has enough meter readers to read the 1,107,163 utility meters in service on a bi-monthly basis. For the months when the meters are not read, consumptions are estimated and these estimates are based on the average of previous actual consumptions. For the great majority of consumers whose consumptions are fairly stable and fluctuate only marginally, these estimates are accurate. However, because the utility meters record consumptions progressively, any deviation is automatically adjusted when the meters are next read.

Sir, I had previously spoken of the PUB's campaign to encourage consumers to read their own meters. I think complaints of inaccurate estimates would not arise if consumers submitted their own readings for billing. The hon. Member for Geylang Serai should consider urging his constituents to take advantage of this offer.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether he is aware that there are many meter readers who are very lazy. They do not take the trouble to calculate the estimates.

Another point is about asking the consumers to read the meters themselves. If this is put into practice, will all the meter readers be out of job?

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, as the Member for Sembawang has said, meter readers do make mistakes in reading meters. I quite agree. Some of them do. But as I said, any mistake made would be readjusted at the next reading.

There is no danger of meter readers losing their jobs as a result of consumers reading their own meters because from time to time meter readers will be sent to check whether the consumers themselves have read the meters correctly.

Haji Rahmat Bin Kenap (Geylang Serai): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, two or three years ago, I received a bill from the PUB and if I am not mistaken, the amount was around $30. Subsequently, I lost this bill. Then I wrote to the PUB for a copy of the bill. One week later I received a reply from the PUB sending me a different duplicate bill asking me to make payment for two months' consumption. This shows that the meter readers are not discharging their duties satisfactorily. If the meter readers are not discharging their duties conscientiously, what is the reason for this?

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, I think I have replied to the question just now when I said that there will be adjustments. There may be one or two meter readers who probably did not do their work properly. On the whole, Mr Speaker, Sir,I do not think the Member for Geylang Serai has asked a supplementary question.