SESB: Tender applications being studied, decision on supplier soon
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) is a step closer to implementing smart meters to record the use of electricity in business premises and houses here.
Its chairman Datuk Seri Madius Tangau (pic) said a tender was opened on April 16 and closed on June 12 for companies wanting to supply smart meters.
“The tender applications are being analysed before they are tabled at the tender management committee and then at the procurement and finance committee of the SESB board,” he said yesterday.
Prior to this, National Consumer Foundation Sabah chairman David Chan said SESB should start using smart meters as this is a more efficient and convenient way of tracking and recording power usage, as opposed to conventional methods.
He said smart meters provide real-time data on energy consumption, allowing consumers to monitor their usage more effectively and make informed decisions about their energy use.
This convenience helps consumers manage their energy bills better and avoid unexpected high charges, he added.
Chan said smart meters can ensure more accurate billing by providing precise and timely data, reducing the likelihood of billing errors, thus building trust between consumers and utility providers.
This can also encourage more efficient energy use, potentially leading to lower overall consumption and cost savings if consumers were given detailed insights into their energy consumption patterns, he added.
“The environmental benefits are reduced energy consumption, which also means a lower environmental impact and contributing to sustainability efforts,” he said.
It would also enhance grid management for utility companies as smart meters facilitate better demand management and quicker identification of issues such as outages or faults, improving overall service reliability, said Chan.
He said implementing smart meters in Sabah would likely involve a significant investment in infrastructure and technology, but the long-term benefits for both consumers and the environment would be substantial.
“This reflects the potential advantages and the growing demand for modernisation in utility services,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tangau urged consumers to download the mySESB mobile application to not only get access to their billing details, make online payments, and get latest updates and notifications, but to also file complaints or reports and get updates on their complaint status.
