Lim Guan Eng says govt considering proposal for higher electricity bill protection as heat drives usage

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — The government is assessing a proposal from Lim Guan Eng to increase the threshold for electricity bill protection to 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, up from the current 800kWh. The idea was shared in a written parliamentary reply on November 11. Lim suggested the threshold should be raised to 1,000kWh, equivalent to a monthly electricity bill exceeding RM501.

If approved, households consuming up to 1,000kWh could save more than 10 percent, or roughly RM54.40 per month. Lim argued that the threshold should be raised as electricity consumption has surged due to hotter weather caused by climate change and recurring haze episodes, which increase the use of electrical appliances. Fadillah Yusof, the Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the government welcomed proposals to enhance electricity bill protection measures but highlighted that any expansion would require thorough assessment, considering financial implications, the number of potential beneficiaries, funding sources, and effectiveness in assisting users facing higher electricity usage.

The government is currently reviewing improvements to the Automatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA) mechanism, set to be implemented in 2027, with the ministry, the Energy Commission, TNB, and the Single Buyer unit involved in the process. The expansion of electricity bill protection from 600kWh to 800kWh, announced on September 18, currently benefits about 90 percent of domestic consumers in Peninsular Malaysia, or around eight million account holders, at an estimated cost of RM248 million.