GEORGE TOWN: Penang will defer the implementation of new water tariffs to July 1, 2026, says Chow Kon Yeow.
The second phase of the Tariff Setting Mechanism (TSM), originally scheduled to take effect today (Aug 1), will be withheld until then to ease the impact on consumers, said the Penang Chief Minister in a statement on Friday.
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The deferment will benefit 715,957 registered water accounts in the state.
Under the revised tariffs, 79.88% of the state's 613,660 domestic accounts – those using up to 35 cubic metres of water a month – would have seen their monthly bills increase by between 30 sen and RM2.55.
This also meant 95.38% of Penang's 98,155 non-domestic (commercial) accounts – those using up to 200 cubic metres of water a month – would have faced bill increases of between RM3.60 and RM35.70.
The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) was expected to collect an additional RM20mil in revenue over six months with the new tariffs in force.
