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

Detailed summary

Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said his ministry, together with the ...

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said his ministry, together with the Energy Commission and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), is studying a proposal by Lim Guan Eng to raise the electricity bill protection threshold for domestic consumers to 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month from the current 800kWh.

The Bagan MP said Fadillah disclosed this in a written parliamentary reply on November 11, adding that a decision on the proposal is expected next year.

Lim said he had proposed raising the threshold to 1,000kWh, equivalent to a monthly electricity bill of more than RM501. If approved, households consuming up to 1,000kWh could save more than 10 per cent, or about RM54.40 a month.

He argued that the threshold should be increased as electricity consumption has risen sharply due to hotter weather linked to climate change, as well as recurring haze episodes that drive greater use of electrical appliances.

In his parliamentary reply, Fadillah said the government welcomed proposals to improve electricity bill protection measures but noted that any expansion would need to be assessed comprehensively, including its financial implications, the number of consumers who would benefit, funding sources and its effectiveness in helping users affected by higher electricity usage.

“The government welcomes any proposals for improvement, including increasing the electricity bill protection threshold to 1,000kWh per month,” Fadillah said.

He said the ministry, the Energy Commission, TNB and the Single Buyer unit were reviewing improvements to the Automatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA) mechanism ahead of its implementation in 2027.

Fadillah added that the review would consider electricity consumption patterns across user categories, changes in fuel and generation costs, and the impact on both domestic and non-domestic consumers.

The government announced on September 18 an expansion of electricity bill protection…

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