THE expansion of electricity bill protection from 600 to 800 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month should not be seen as a licence for households to increase consumption, says the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA).
Its chief executive officer Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said while the measure would provide relief to households, consumers should continue managing their electricity use to avoid higher bills.
He said the initiative could help households cope with higher electricity consumption, particularly during hot weather and haze.
“However, protection up to 800 kWh should not be seen as a licence to use electricity excessively.
“Although there is protection, the higher the consumption, the higher the bill that consumers will have to pay,” he told a local Malay daily.
Utusan Malaysia reported yesterday that domestic consumers of Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) could save up to RM47 a month, or nearly 13 per cent, on their electricity bills from September following exemptions from three electricity-related charges.
The exemptions cover the Automatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA) charge, eight per cent sales and service tax (SST), and the RM10 retail charge for consumers using up to 800 kWh a month.
Saravanan said education on energy efficiency should continue so consumers understood that every reduction in electricity consumption would have an impact on their bills.
“Consumers need to understand that every kWh saved still has an impact on their bill,” he said.
He said increases in electricity consumption should also be assessed based on their causes and should not necessarily be attributed to wastage.
“If it is due to wastage, consumers need to change their habits.
“But if it is due to hot weather, haze, school holidays or more family members being at home, the increase in consumption may be difficult to avoid,” he said.
He said consumer protection and energy-efficiency practices should therefore go hand in hand to ensure the assistance provided did not encourage wastage.
“The Government provides protection when circumstances require it, but consumers also have a responsibility to use electricity prudently.
“The message is simple: 800 kWh is protection, not a consumption target,” he said. - September 20, 2026
