‘New power tariff won’t burden the people’

KOTA BARU: New electricity tariff for this year until 2024 will not burden the people, says Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

He said the new tariff would benefit nearly 85% of domestic account holders.

He noted that the government had taken into consideration the country’s current situation, including the economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, when determining the new electricity tariff.

“The government has studied (this matter) and will make an announcement soon.

“However, I guarantee that it (electricity tariff) will not burden the people, especially domestic account holders,” he said, adding that the new tariff also involved industrial and commercial accounts.

He said this after handing over assistance to various organisations at the Kota Baru Member of Parliament Service Centre here yesterday.

Takiyuddin also said that more than 40,000 heads of households would benefit from the one-off 100% rebate for December’s electricity bill.

He said the initiative was provided under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to ease the burden faced by victims affected by the recent floods.

He said the government would also encourage people to use energy-saving electrical appliances rated with four and five stars.

“Although the price is more expensive, our government encourages the use of electrical appliances in this category by providing a rebate of RM200 per household.

“So far, more than 1,100 shop owners and retailers have been listed to redeem the rebate,” he said, adding that both the list as well the electrical items that could be purchased using the rebate could be accessed at Seda Malaysia’s (Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia) website.

In Petaling Jaya, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) chief retail officer Datuk Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan said residential and commercial premise owners had the option to change the electricity account name of their rented property to the tenant’s name.

He said TNB would make it easier for customers to apply for change of tenancy on the myTNB portal at www.mytnb.com.my or by visiting the nearest Kedai Tenaga.

“Premise owners can still monitor tenants’ monthly payment and usage patterns over time through the myTNB application and portal,” said Megat Jalaluddin yesterday.

He was responding to complaints by premise owners burdened with tenants’ bills upon discovery of TNB’s installation and meter tampering by bitcoin cryptocurrency operators.

On Jan 5, a man was shocked when he received a notice from TNB claiming he owed nearly RM700,000 for electricity usage.

Megat Jalaluddin said further information for the name change were available on myTNB portal.

The name change option will also reduce the risk of owners having to settle tenants’ defaulted bill payments.

“We are always open to meeting customers for clarification,” he said.