TENAGA Nasional Bhd (TNB) consumers have recently, via Facebook and SMSes, started debating and questioning their bills.

The argument and questions raised certainly deserve detailed and honest explanations as they relate to profiteering on consumers' arrogance or even deceit for the past year or two.

TNB does not read its meters every month. Only on alternate months. One month is just an estimate!

Efficient billing?

This is the beef of consumers with TNB: "The power rates go up significantly as you use more. How does TNB know how much was actually consumed in a month when it only reads its meters once in two months?

"Of course we will have to pay more when you lump the billing in two months as the usage would be higher in two months instead of a month. That will mean consumers unwittingly pay higher rates at the end of the second month of billing.

"Estimates in the first month cannot be acceptable! Estimate is just an estimate and it is never accurate. That is why it is an estimate."

TNB must, therefore, make a public clarification why they are not reading its meters every month.

If no valid or sensible explanation is forthcoming, then consumers have every right to accuse TNB of deliberately profiteering from consumers' ignorance. Perhaps it is a case of gross oversight or anomaly in its billing and meter reading system?

I doubt it, with all the professionals in its establishment.

Whatever, TNB better come up with a valid and acceptable explanation for its consumers or the public.

As it is, I have many friends who are seriously considering taking TNB to the Tribunal for Consumer Claims, an independent body established under Section 85, Part XII of the Consumer Protection Act 1999.

And a tribunal decision in favour of the consumer will open the floodgates for consumers to overwhelm TNB.

I predict TNB will give us all sorts of explanations and excuses, including a lack of meter readers.

From my humble knowledge of TNB, gained from my work experience, if TNB's response for not reading its meters every month is due to a lack of meter readers, then that is just plain bullshit!

Efficient power supply?

TNB has some 2,000 meter readers in the country. That is enough, according to TNB insiders.

In some countries, where power suppliers have embraced technology and efficiency without hesitation, there is zero dispute between them and their consumers over billings.

I am talking about the system of consumers having the choice of paying any amount they wish at designated counters set up in department stores, fuel stations, convenience stores, etc and then keying in a code into their meter boxes at home to load the usage.

This means TNB can do away with meter readers when such a system is implemented fully, and neither will it have billing disputes or debts to collect.

Yes! It is the prepaid system, like how you reload or top up your handphone credits.

It is most ideal and efficient for TNB but for consumer resistance and political considerations, it hesitates to embrace technology and efficiency.

Why should that be so?

In fact, all utility companies should consider such prepaid systems for service and supply to raise efficiency and productivity by leaps and bounds.

Corporate social responsibility?

In TNB's case, the cost savings from various issues related or associated with collection will be wiped out. Electricity theft can also be reduced.

The significant savings can then be passed on to consumers in the form of lower electricity rates and for improving maintenance and service.

Retraining and relocating the meter readers should not be a problem! The problem is with politicians and BN's lack of political will to embrace change and technology.

It is believed a major concern of the government is consumer resistance and frustrations when they forget to top up usage and run out of electricity.

Now, if one is unable to manage his or her household efficiently, who is to blame?

Just to stress the point on technology and efficiency, why are there so many road toll booths and collectors in Malaysia, compared with Singapore?

That's because Singapore embraces superior technology to ensure efficiency in governance and service.

Efficient service?

Malaysia is striving to become a developed nation by 2020.

All Malaysians must therefore open up their mindset, adapt to changes to readily help fast forward nation-building for our children's future.

Any hesitation to embrace superior and efficient technology in the public and private sectors would, therefore, be unthinkable and senseless.

How about taking the lead for Malaysia, TNB? May I also remind TNB of its tagline: Powering The Nation.

Live up to it by embracing change and new technology.