KUALA LUMPUR: All electricity consumers nationwide will be given discounts up to six months from April 1 to Sept 30 for consumption bill.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the move was to lessen the burden of the people in facing the onslaught of the Covid-19 infection.
He said the discounts were announced on Feb 27 through the 2020 Stimulus Package and following the Economic Action Council on March 16 by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“The government has agreed to provide a 15 per cent discount on electricity consumption from April 1 to Sept 30, 2020 to six (6) selected business sectors impacted directly from the outbreak of Covid-19 － hotel operators; travel and tourism agencies; shopping complexes; convention centres; theme parks; and local airlines offices.
“This 15 per cent discount involves some 10 thousand (business) accounts from six (6) selected business sectors that come under the Trade Tariff category,” he said in a statement today.
Shamsul said the 15 per cent discount for the six-month period will see reduction of RM40 million in the Peninsula, RM20 million in Sabah and about RM8.5 million in Sarawak in electricity bill.
He also said consumers from the commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors would also receive a 2 per cent discount.
“Commercial, industrial and agricultural consumers other than six (6) of the above selected sectors will enjoy a 2 per cent discount on consumption of electricity usage from April 1 to Sept 30, 2020.”
This would benefit approximately 1.6 million Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) account holders with electricity bill savings estimated at RM370 million for the six months’ period.
For Sabah, it will benefit 99,322 account owners with an estimated cost of RM11.5 million, while for Sarawak, it involves an estimated cost of RM107.2 million for 100,000 account owners.
Shamsul also announced a 2 per cent discount for domestic electricity users.
He added that all users in the domestic or residential category will enjoy electricity bill savings through the 2 per cent discount on the electricity consumption bill for the period from April 1 to Sept 30 2020.
“This means that people will enjoy a 2 per cent discount during the period, in addition to the 6 per cent discount already being enjoyed by domestic consumers for the period from Jan 1 to June 30, 2020.”
It is expected to provide an estimated electricity bill saving of RM92 million to about 7.5 million TNB account holders in the six month period.
For Sabah, it will benefit 520,378 domestic consumers at a cost estimated to be around RM5.7 million while for Sarawak, it will provide benefit to 585,637 domestic consumers at an estimated cost of RM6.8 million, said Shamsul.
“I am happy to inform you that the discount cost of the electric bill will be funded by the Government through the Electric Industry Fund for the Peninsula. For Sabah and Sarawak, the cost of discount will be borne by the Federal Government,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Shamsul announced that TNB and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd would not be cutting electricity connections for consumers who were late in their bill payment during the Movement Control Order period until March 31.