PETALING JAYA: Going green is becoming a practical strategy for companies looking to manage higher electricity costs while reducing their environmental footprint.
Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) treasurer-general Datuk Koong Lin Loong said many SMEs were increasingly embracing ESG (environmental, social and governance) practices to lower consumption and costs.
“We have moved away from the old ICPT (imbalance cost pass-through) mechanism to the Automatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA), which is adjusted every six months. Businesses will see the impact on their electricity bills. We have to look at how we can save energy.”
Koong said businesses could adopt simple measures such as switching off air-conditioning and lights during lunch breaks while reducing usage when offices were unoccupied.
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“Nowadays, there are so many computers and devices in offices. Even if you have fewer staff, there are still many devices that need to be switched on or charged.
“So you have to look at ESG practices, how to save the environment while, at the same time, saving energy.
“If nobody is in the office, there is no reason for the air-conditioning to run at full capacity.
“If you make full use of the ESG philosophy, you can reduce your electricity consumption and save on your bills,” he said.
Meanwhile, Star Media Group Bhd (SMG) has taken measures to reduce electricity consumption and manage maximum demand following the introduction of the new electricity tariff structure in July 2025.
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SMG senior general manager (print) Goh Kok Soo said the revised tariff had changed the peak and off-peak periods, with peak hours now running from 2pm to 10pm on weekdays.
The remaining hours, from 10pm to 2pm the following day were classified as off-peak, as were weekends under the new time-of-use structure.
“Total electricity consumption and maximum demand are the two areas we are trying to reduce,” he said during a briefing.
Goh said the group was also monitoring the AFA, a fuel-cost component introduced under the new tariff structure.
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The AFA was introduced on July 1, 2025 following the restructuring of the electricity tariff, replacing the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) mechanism.
He said the group had reviewed its electricity usage and adjusted machinery operating hours, including those at the wastewater treatment plant, according to production volume.
“Previously, we ran it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have changed the operation and now run it only during certain hours to optimise the machine’s operating time,” he said.
