Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), in response to PKR Investment and Trade Bureau chief Wong Chen’s allegations, has denied that the new meters installed had contributed to an increase in consumers’ power bills.

On Tuesday, Wong said it was estimated that consumers will bear as much as RM688 million a year if the new meters calculate electricity bills at an increased rate of two percent.

TNB said that the numbers were “misleading and inaccurate” and maintained that their meters are accurate as they went through stringent manufacturing and accreditation processes under Skim Akreditasi Makmal Malaysia (SAMM) issued by Department of Standards Malaysia, under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.

The electrical company said this in response to customers’ complaints that the new meter has caused their electric bill to increase, adding that “there is no intention to deliberately enhance TNB’s revenue”.

“Any difference in reading is a factor of meter degradation or consumption increase. For that reason, some customers perceived there was an increase in their electricity bills after meter replacements,” TNB said in a statement today.

TNB also stated that contracts awarded to the four vendors supplying its digital meters were in accordance with the company’s procurement guidelines and procedures.

“The guidelines and procedures are in tandem with the procurement guidelines abided with by all government-linked companies (GLCs).

“Additionally, every appointed vendor met the specifications and has gone through a transparent and stringent processes,” TNB said.

This was in response to Wong’s claim that one of the companies which supplied the new meters to TNB is allegedly linked to a family member of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.