Govt's special meeting tomorrow on measures to mitigate impact of higher electricity bills

Malaysia is grappling with soaring electricity bills due to widespread haze and scorching weather conditions. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that two ministries, along with the Energy Commission and Tenaga Nasional Bhd, will convene tomorrow to explore ways to alleviate the financial burden on households. The haze and higher temperatures have led to increased electricity usage, pushing some consumers' monthly consumption above the 600kWh mark, triggering the "Automatic Fuel Adjustment" mechanism.

Anwar emphasized that the government remains committed to fair and reasonable subsidy measures, prioritizing the well-being of the nation's citizens. Households using less than 600kWh per billing cycle are exempt from the AFA charge and retail charge. The AFA mechanism relies on market fuel prices and exchange rates, with monthly reviews. In September, the AFA rate is set at 3.67 sen per kWh, due to elevated global fuel costs.