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

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced an expansion of electricity bill protection for Malaysian households on September 17th. The protection now extends from 600 kilowatt-hours (kWh) to 800kWh per month until December 31st, in a bid to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures caused by rising electricity consumption due to haze and higher temperatures.

Under this expanded protection, households using up to 800kWh each month will be exempt from the Automatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA), Retail Charge, and Sales and Service Tax (SST) on their electricity bills. Anwar expressed gratitude to Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Petra, and the Energy Commission for facilitating the quick implementation of this measure.

He acknowledged that the recent haze and warmer weather had resulted in higher electricity consumption among certain households, causing their monthly usage to surpass 600kWh and leading to unusually high bills. The Madani Government will continue to monitor fuel costs and energy market conditions closely to ensure that any decisions related to electricity tariffs balance affordability, electricity supply security, and the sustainability of the national energy sector.