PN calls for automatic compensation scheme for businesses hit by power cuts

The Nationalist Party has called on the Government to introduce an automatic compensation scheme for businesses and families that have suffered losses as a result of repeated and prolonged power cuts.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (today), the Opposition said the ongoing electricity disruptions have become so severe that some businesses have been forced to close temporarily, while others have lost hours of work, disposed of spoiled products and suffered damage to equipment.

The PN said the proposed compensation scheme should be based on clear and transparent criteria, including the duration of the outage, damage to equipment, loss of stock, lost sales and any periods during which businesses were forced to suspend operations.

It argued that the application process should be simple, swift and free from unnecessary bureaucracy.

"It is unacceptable for businesses that operate throughout the year, pay taxes and create jobs to be left to bear the cost of the Government's lack of planning," the party said.

The Opposition maintained that the strain on Malta's electricity distribution system was foreseeable, arguing that the Government should have invested in infrastructure to keep pace with population growth and increasing energy demand.

It also criticised the Government for promoting economic growth while failing to guarantee what it described as a basic and essential service.

The statement follows reports from businesses across several Maltese localities that have experienced operational disruption in recent days due to electricity outages.

Business owners have reported temporary closures, interruptions to cash registers and online payment systems, spoiled stock, and difficulties operating without air conditioning during the summer heat. Some businesses have also stepped in to support their communities by offering emergency charging facilities or relocating services to continue operating safely.