By Emma Randle
Socialist councils across the province are up in arms at a proposed water price hike by public water company Galasa, after it emerged it was planning to fix water tariffs and make all councils compulsory shareholders.
Consumers could see their water bills increase by up to 44 per cent in consumption costs and 28 per cent in standing charges with the new tariffs, according to the PSOE, while councils will have no ability to set their own water charges.
The proposal to amend the company’s statutes to impose across the board water tariffs and incorporate all user councils into the company is seen as a move to offload its €37m-debt on councils and ultimately the public by the Socialist PSOE and left wing Izquierda Unida parties.
PSOE secretary for Almería Adela Segura described the proposed changes as “nonsense”.
