HUGE plunge in oil prices but only SMALL cut in electricity tariffs - FAIR?

Putrajaya has decided to reduce electricity tariff beginning March 1, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said today.

He said with the new tariff, consumers can save between RM13.50 and RM45 on their monthly bills.

The reduced tariffs are valid till June 30.

The new tariff for the peninsula will see a reduction of 2.25 sen per kWh, but would only affect those who consumed more than 300kWh a month, said Ongkili.

The reduction was made after the government reviewed the Imbalance Cost Pass Through system, he said.

The last time power tariff was reviewed was January 14, with the rate set at 21.8 sen per kWh for the first 200 kWh and 33.40 sen per kWh for the next 100 kWh (201kWh to 300kWH) consumed in a month.

The next 300kWh (301-600kWh) used cost 51.60 sen per kWh beginning January 2014.

The next 300kWh (601-900kWh) consumed was set at a price of 54.60 sen per kWh.

Any electricity consumption that exceeded 900kWh a month currently costs 57.10 sen per kWh.

Last month, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had urged Putrajaya to instruct power supplier Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to lower its electricity tariff, to reduce pressure faced by the public due to increasing prices of goods.

On February 4, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin also proposed that TNB consider reducing power tariff in light of the drop in fuel prices.

"TNB should probably consider reducing the electricity tariff. Recently they had asked the Cabinet to raise the tariff because of the rise in fuel cost. Now, it has come down," the youth and sports minister wrote on Facebook. – TMI