Peter Chin: Electricity tariff to remain at current rate

KUALA LUMPUR — The electricity tariff rate will remain at its current level until June next year, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, said today.

He said the earlier plan of the government was to review the tariff every six months but the final authority was the Cabinet and it had rejected the plan.

Chin disclosed that his ministry had presented the paper on the tariff recently to the National Economic Council.

“Cabinet does not approve it. So I think there will not be any review and the tariff will not be changed,” he told reporters after launching the International Best Practices Seminar here today.

The last time the government increased electricity tariffs was in June last year, following an increase in the natural gas price for the power sector.

Chin also said the renegotiation of the power purchase agreements (PPA) for independent power producers will result in a more competitive rate.

“We should wait for the Energy Commission to make the appropriate announcement soon,” he said, declining to comment further.

Meanwhile, Chin also urged Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) to come out with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in implementing the new digital meter.

He said his ministry has had a discussion with TNB following complaints from customers that they were paying higher electricity bills.

The ministry has taken note of the problem and has urged TNB to come out with the SOP which will give confidence to customers.

“They need to explain to the customer that the new meter is good and there’s nothing wrong with it,” he said.

— Bernama