Electricity and Water Bills in Malta (ARMS)

In Malta, electricity and water come on one bill from ARMS Ltd (Automated Revenue Management Services).

• Enemalta supplies the electricity and the Water Services Corporation supplies the water.
• ARMS reads the smart meters, sends the bills and collects the money.
• Bills usually arrive every two months. You can see your bills, readings and payments in the ARMS online account and pay online, by direct debit or at a post office.

Electricity in Malta is cheap compared with most of Europe, but bills can go up a lot in summer, when people use air conditioning.

When you rent, the ARMS account is often kept in the landlord's name. This is normal and legal. In that case:

• ARMS sends the bill to the landlord.
• The landlord then passes the bill amount on to you, the tenant. You pay the landlord, usually every two months or with your rent.
• Some landlords ask for a fixed amount every month and settle the difference later.

What to check:

• Ask for a copy of each ARMS bill, so you can see the real meter readings and the amount. You should only pay for what you used, at the price ARMS charged.
• Check the tariff on the bill: it should say Residential, with the right number of persons. If it says Domestic or Non-residential, you are probably paying too much (see below).
• Write the meter readings on the day you move in and the day you move out. Take a photo of the meters.
• Read your lease: it should say how bills are shared and how often you pay.

You can also ask to move the account into your own name. This gives you full control, but there is an admin fee and the landlord must agree.

ARMS uses different prices depending on who lives in the home:

Example (2026 electricity prices): the first 2,000 units a year cost about €0.105 per unit on the residential tariff, and about €0.14 on the domestic tariff. Water costs about €1.40 per m³ (residential) or €2.56 per m³ (domestic). Check the latest prices on the ARMS website.

Many expats pay the domestic price for months without knowing, because nobody registered them at the address.

1. Get your e-Residence card (or Maltese ID card). See Residence Cards.
2. Fill in Form H (Declaration of Number of Persons). It tells ARMS how many people live in the home. Attach a copy of the ID card or residence card of everyone aged 16 or over.
3. Send it online through servizz.gov.mt or the ARMS website. It takes about 3 weeks to process.
4. Check your next bill. It should show Residential and the right number of persons.

Good to know:

• Each person can be registered at one address only. When you move, submit a new Form H for the new home.
• Often the landlord or agent submits Form H, because the account is in their name. Ask them to do it when you sign the lease.
• If the landlord refuses to help, a tenant with a signed lease can apply to ARMS directly with Form F2, so the tenant is recognised at the address.
• The new tariff applies to bills issued after ARMS processes the form, so do it as soon as you move in.

It depends on the size of the home, how many people live there and how much you use air conditioning. As a rough guide for an apartment on the residential tariff:

• 1 to 2 people: about €60 to €120 a month
• Family of 3 to 4: about €100 to €180 a month
• Summer bills (June to September) can be double the winter bills.

Use the ARMS bill calculator on the ARMS website to check a bill, or plan your monthly budget with our free Cost of Living Calculator.

• Make sure you are on the residential tariff. This is the biggest saving.
• Use air conditioning wisely: set it to 24–26°C in summer, close windows and shutters, and clean the filters.
• Check the solar water heater if your home has one, and switch off the electric water heater when you do not need it.
• Fix dripping taps and toilets. A running cistern can waste a lot of water.
• Compare your meter readings between bills to spot problems early.
• Many people in Malta do not drink tap water. See Water Delivery for bottled water options.

• Moving in: ask the landlord or agent which tariff the home is on before you sign, and how bills are paid.
• Moving out: give the final meter readings to the landlord and keep a photo. Ask for the final bill before your deposit is returned.
• Problems with your landlord? See Renting Properties and Housing Authority.

Prices and forms can change. Always check the latest information with ARMS before you make a decision.