BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN; Brunei’s revised electricity tariff for commercial and industrial customers will take effect in April 2028, with an 18-month grace period to allow businesses to prepare for the new progressive rate structure.
In a joint press release on Friday, the Department of Energy, Upstream and Downstream at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Finance announced the revised implementation details.
This follows an announcement made during the First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council and a press release issued on March 17, 2026, regarding the review of the electricity tariff for the commercial sector from a “regressive” to a “progressive” structure.
Under the changes, the existing “Tariff B: Commercial Sector” will be renamed “Tariff B: Non-Residential Sector”, with rates based on electricity consumption.
The revised tariff will apply only to non-residential customers, while the existing residential electricity tariff, which adopted a progressive structure in 2012, will remain unchanged.
Under the revised structure, electricity consumption of up to 1,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) will be charged at BND0.08 per kWh. Consumption of more than 1,500 kWh and up to 4,500 kWh will be charged at BND0.12 per kWh, while consumption of more than 4,500 kWh and up to 15,000 kWh will cost BND0.15 per kWh.
For consumption exceeding 15,000 kWh and up to 7,200 megawatt-hours (MWh), the rate will be BND0.21 per kWh. Consumption of more than 7,200 MWh and up to 21,600 MWh will be charged at BND0.23 per kWh, while consumption exceeding 21,600 MWh will cost BND0.25 per kWh.
For high-voltage customers operating above 11 kilovolts, a capacity charge of BND10 per kilowatt will also apply.
The authorities said the revised structure is intended to promote a more sustainable electricity tariff system and encourage businesses to improve energy efficiency, manage consumption and reduce unnecessary electricity use.
During the grace period, businesses are encouraged to adopt energy efficiency and conservation measures and explore renewable energy options, including solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) systems.
The government has supported solar adoption by classifying solar panels as non-dutiable goods since 2012 to reduce installation costs. The Net-Metering Programme, introduced in 2021, also allows eligible Solar PV systems to supply surplus electricity to the national grid in exchange for energy credits.
A Monitoring and Review Taskforce has been established by the Department of Energy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant stakeholders, to oversee the transition and implementation.
The taskforce will hold engagement sessions, known as Muzakarah, with affected businesses, commercial operators and industrial customers to explain the revised tariff and gather feedback on implementation and transition arrangements.
Source: Borneo Bulletin/ANN
