PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES TO VOLUNTARY NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS (Request for domestic rates)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for National Development and Communications if he will consider asking the Public Utilities Board to charge voluntary non-profit organisations at the domestic rate instead of commercial rate for public utilities.

The Minister for National Development and Communications (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, the definition of a domestic consumer is clearly spelt but in the Board's tariff regulations. Domestic rates for electricity and water are only applicable to premises which are used exclusively as private dwellings. Where part of the premises is used in connection with any trade, business or profession or as a boarding house, school, place of worship, mess or for communal services, the non-domestic rate will be charged.

One essential point of consideration is the definition of the term "voluntary non-profit". There will be countless organisations claiming to be worthy of this description; for example, temples, churches, clubs, clans, associations, institutions, to name but a few. The situation could become unmanageable.

The Public Utilities Board will charge the domestic rate if it can be established that the premises is used solely for residential purposes. For example, the Singapore Council of Social Service is being charged domestic rate for the 30 Housing Board flats in Bukit Merah and Ang Mo Kio estates which the Council has rented as homes for the aged under a special scheme.