Kerajaan perluas perlindungan bil elektrik pengguna domestik hingga 800kWj

The Malaysian government has expanded subsidies for domestic electricity consumption, increasing the allowance from 600kWj to 800kWj per month starting from September to October of this year, according to Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim. The move aims to address the pressure on the cost of living for the public as the country faces scorching temperatures and heatwaves.

The increased allowance will provide exemptions for automatic fuel allowance (AFA), installation charges, and sales and services tax (SST) for domestic users consuming up to 800kWj monthly. Anwar praised Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications (Petra), and the Energy Commission for their roles in implementing the measure.

The unusually high temperatures and humidity are driving up household electricity usage, causing monthly consumption to surpass the 600kWj threshold, resulting in unusual spikes in bills. Anwar stated that the government will continue to closely monitor developments in fuel prices and energy market conditions to ensure any decisions on electricity tariffs take into account the public's ability to pay, energy reliability, and the national energy sector's capacity.

The decision comes following a special meeting today to explore immediate mitigation steps to alleviate the impact of the electricity bill increase on households. Anwar expressed concern over public complaints about the electricity bill hike shortly after his return from India and the Maldives.