Anwar: Malaysian households using up to 800kWh exempt from AFA, Retail Charge and SST on electricity bills until Dec 31 amid haze, heat

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced an expansion of electricity bill relief for Malaysian households, extending the protection from 600kWh to 800kWh per month through the end of the year, reported a Facebook post by the premier. This move aims to alleviate the financial strain on families, especially as the haze and higher temperatures have led to increased electricity usage in some homes.

Under this expanded relief, domestic consumers who use no more than 800kWh each month will not have to pay the Automatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA), Retail Charge, or Sales and Service Tax (SST) on their electricity bills. Anwar praised Tenaga Nasional Bhd, the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (Petra), and the Energy Commission for facilitating the speedy implementation of this measure.

He acknowledged that recent haze and warmer weather have contributed to higher electricity consumption, with some households' monthly usage surpassing the 600kWh threshold, resulting in unexpectedly higher bills. The Madani Government will keep a close eye on fuel costs and current energy market conditions to ensure that any changes to electricity tariffs consider affordability, electricity supply security, and the sustainability of the national energy sector, according to Anwar.