KOTA KINABALU: The registration of standby generator sets (gensets) is not a new policy but a continuation of long-standing regulations under the Electricity Supply Act 1990, says the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS).
Its chief executive officer, Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid (pic), said the regulation is now enforced through the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024.
This comes amid an outcry over the need to register gensets, with state opposition Parti Warisan accusing the Sabah government of penalising business owners "for trying to keep the lights on".
Nasser stressed that registration is a safety mechanism to ensure compliance through proper documentation, qualified testing, and inspections when necessary.
“ECoS is not introducing new or exorbitant charges," he said in a statement on Thursday (May 15).
"The annual registration fee structure remains unchanged from what was previously imposed... ranging from RM30 for small installations up to RM3,000 for those exceeding 5,000kW."
Nasser addressed viral claims suggesting costs of up to RM25,000, saying these figures could reflect payments made to private consultants or contractors, not ECoS itself.
“To help reduce costs, ECoS provides a directory of certified contractors and consultants on its website.
"Owners can also register independently through the ECoS Online System without needing to engage third parties,” he added.
For gensets previously registered under Suruhanjaya Tenaga with no configuration changes, Nasser said a simple declaration is enough, without having to re-submit earlier documents such as Forms G and H, or single-line diagrams.
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Warisan vice president Datuk Junz Wong said the registration policy was “totally ridiculous”, accusing authorities of punishing Sabahans for a failed power supply system.
“Do you think people are buying gensets for fun? They are doing it out of necessity because SESB cannot guarantee reliable electricity," he said in a statement.
Wong said the ruling would impact businesses, especially those in the food and manufacturing sectors, as they need an uninterrupted power supply to operate.
“These businesses face real financial losses during blackouts. Now they are being penalised for trying to keep their lights on,” he said.
Wong urged the government to withdraw the policy or at least delay implementation until Sabah Electricity can ensure stable power across Sabah.
“Fix the root cause first. This policy is... unfair to people who are just trying to cope,” he said.
Wong had earlier made a social media post that listed alleged costs, including a RM2,000 licence application fee, RM2,000 to RM6,500 for diagram submission, RM2,500 to RM10,000 for Forms G and H, and RM500 to RM1,000 for annual licence renewals, questioning why these fees were being imposed during challenging economic times.
On Wednesday (May 14), the National Consumer Foundation Malaysia (Sabah Chapter) said the claim was not accurate as ECoS does not charge the application fee.
It said consumers can apply directly through the official ECoS website without any charges.
