Prorated method for electricity bills accurate, says TNB

Residents have been taking to social media to voice their frustration over high electricity bills.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) today reassured consumers that the prorated method it uses in adjusting electricity bills, particularly for the period under the movement control order (MCO), is accurate and transparent.

Its chief retail officer, Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan, said the bills are from actual meter readings which are proportionally prorated monthly during the MCO period.

“The prorated method is very accurate and transparent. The method has also been reviewed and approved by the Energy Commission.

“The same method is being used by utility companies in other countries in Europe and Australia.”

He gave the explanation in response to consumers’ complaints that the spike in electricity bills during the MCO period was due to miscalculations.

Megat Jalaluddin said the prorated method was applied to ensure that consumers are not overcharged.

He was earlier reported to have disclosed that electricity consumption in the residential sector had increased 20-50% following the MCO as people were staying put at home and employees were working from home.

During the MCO to curb Covid-19, TNB only issued bill estimates as meter readings and bill delivery to consumers’ premises were restricted.

Meter readings in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur resumed this month.

TNB concurrently restructured its customers’ bills using the prorated method.

For consumers’ convenience, TNB has provided an instalment payment facility for bills incurred during the MCO period.

The facility is provided automatically to over 7.5 million residential sector consumers. - FMT