MANY people have been complaining of high electricity bills ever since Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) introduced a new method of tabulating power usage recently.
“My bill has increased tremendously ever since the new tariff was introduced. All my children are students and need to use the computer and printer which increases the bill,” housewife K. Shanti said.
Shanti, 49, does not understand why the tariff for consumers who exceed 400kWh usage need to pay a 30sen per kWh charge.
“The rate is too high for a home user. Why hasn’t the TNB reduced the cost of electricity after the oil prices have decreased?” she asked.
According to a TNB spokesman, as the sole electricity provider in the country, the company was very concerned about the continuous misperception the public have about electricity tariffs and oil prices.
The spokesman said that TNB noted that many still assumed that the electricity tariff was raised due to a hike in the cost of petrol and diesel in June last year.
Huge jump: Shanti’s bill has increased tremendously since the new tariffs were introduced.
“This is not true. Instead, the increase in tariff is in line with the government decision to review the gas price to the power sector,” he said.
“The new tariff structure that took effect from July 1 last year was meant to allow the TNB to offset the increase in gas and coal prices,” he said.
Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor had earlier said that tariff could not be reduced for now although the price of oil has come down.
Shaziman had also said that in peninsular Malaysia, electricity was generated mostly by using gas and coal, and not oil.
“The three main sources to generate electricity in the peninsula is 60% gas, 30% coal and 6% to 7% hydro power while the rest from other sources,” the TNB spokesman said.
He said that TNB would maintain the lifeline tariff rate for household consumers whose monthly electricity consumption was up to 200kWh.
“For other users, we encourage them to consume electricity wisely such as by using energy efficient appliances,” the spokesman said.
Lee Kum Yun also complained about being confused with the tariff billing system.
“The tariff clearly indicates that the rates are per month. However, the TNB men who come and check the meter usually come several days after the month-long duration,” Lee said.
“So when they come after that one month, shouldn’t they recount the extra power used with the first tariff below 400kWh per month?” he asked?
According to the TNB spokesman, an estimate reading will be made in cases where the TNB meter reader is unable to read the meter due to unforeseen circumstances.
He said the TNB meter reader would provide an estimate reading of the bill.
However, the TNB will only give estimate readings of up to three consecutive months. In the fourth month, should the meter reader face a similar problem, the TNB will make arrangements with the house owner to allow its representative to take an actual reading of the meter.
The TNB spokesman said house owners should check out the company’s website – www.tnb.com.my– for more details on tariff charges or energy saving tips.
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