Govt to spend half a billion to maintain 2-sen electricity rebate

The government today said it would spend RM493 million to maintain the two-sen rebate for electricity users for the second half of the year.

The energy and natural resources ministry said the imbalance cost pass-through (ICPT) charges for July 1 to Dec 31 totalled RM638.98 million, meaning that the rebate for users would be 1.13 sen/kWj compared to 2.00 sen/kWj for January to June.

“However, taking into consideration the challenges and difficulties faced by the people following the implementation of the movement control order to break the chain of Covid-19 infection, the government has agreed to fund the additional rebate of 0.87 sen/kWj through an allocation of RM493 million via the Electricity Industry Fund (KWIE).”

In a statement, it said this would benefit some 9.44 million Tenaga Nasional Bhd users, whom it added would enjoy an average discount of 5% for the period.

In a statement, it said this would benefit some 9.44 million Tenaga Nasional Bhd users, whom it added would enjoy an average discount of 5% for the period.

It said the same rate would apply to non-domestic users at the Kulim High Technology Park (KHTP) who obtain their electricity supply from NUR Power Sdn Bhd.

“This is the first time non-domestic users at KHTP will enjoy an electricity rebate since the incentive-based regulations mechanism was installed in 2017,” it said.

The ministry also said that targeted discounts would be given to domestic and commercial users in the peninsula and Sabah for the second half of the year.

It said a further announcement would be made by the prime minister.

Meanwhile, households in the lower-income category earning RM1,169 and below registered in the e-Kasih system will be eligible for a RM40 electricity rebate.

The ministry said 282,182 household heads were eligible for the rebate as of May this year.

“However, only 113,745 or 40.31% of those eligible have updated their electricity bill account numbers,” it said, urging the rest to do so as well in order to enjoy the rebate.