Give bulk discounts on electricity without complicated calculations - Umno
Umno has reportedly urged the relevant authorities to give bulk discounts based on the latest meter readings as part of the government’s initiative to give short-term assistance to the people.
This is instead of resorting to complicated calculations to determine the amount that is due, Bernama quoted the party’s information chief Shahril Hamdan as saying.
Umno has reportedly urged the relevant authorities to give bulk discounts based on the latest meter readings as part of the government’s initiative to give short-term assistance to the people.
This is instead of resorting to complicated calculations to determine the amount that is due, Bernama quoted the party’s information chief Shahril Hamdan as saying.
He reportedly said TNB’s original idea of giving discounts based on monthly electricity usage was conceptually correct, but its implementation may not be appropriate.
“This is because during the movement control order (MCO) that came into effect following the outbreak of Covid-19, people were confined to their homes and this had a direct impact on electricity consumption - including on those from the B40 and M40 households.
“The people complying with the government’s directive to stay at home to break the Covid-19 transmission chain is the reason why electricity consumption in households (domestic consumers) is higher than normal.
“When the actual reading was done by TNB, the electricity bill was higher than the normal usage before the MCO, which is causing consumers more anxiety in this challenging and uncertain economic environment,” he said.
Shahril urged TNB to clarify the situation as best possible so customers would not feel cheated, and he welcomed the easy payment scheme introduced by the energy company to alleviate customer complaints.
Also calling for a discount is Kuala Terengganu MP Ahmad Amzad Hashim.
“I think TNB would not lose much by being more gracious during the MCO and conditional MCO periods over the past three months.
“True, TNB has lost much revenue from customers such as factories that are no longer operating and hotels that are forced to close.
“What’s wrong with bearing some of the people’s burden by, for example, giving more discounts for the movement control order, or by introducing a flat rate? It is only for three months.
“In that way, I think TNB will be closer to people’s hearts and be seen and going through thick and thin together with the people,” he said in a statement today.
Previously, it was reported that residential electricity usage had increased by 23 percent during the movement control order period, even as overall energy use fell by 33 percent.
During the period, TNB had stopped meter readings between March 20 and May 14 to curb the spread of Covid-19 and issued bills using estimates based on previous months’ electricity usage.
Many consumers received a higher-than-usual bill when TNB resumed meter-reading activities, and many consumers complained that the bill was much higher than usual despite a discount announced by the government.
TNB had previously explained that the bill was calculated based on a prorated method approved by the Energy Commission to ensure that consumers are not overcharged.
Meanwhile, PKR Youth vice-chief Syed Badli Shah Syed Osman said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah must take full responsibility for people’s anxiety about their bill shock, accusing him of failing to manage the situation effectively.
He urged the minister to summon all stakeholders to a meeting to discuss the best solution to the problem that would not burden the people.
“The longer he takes to act, the more the people will suffer. If he is incapable (of doing that) then he might as well step down,” he said in a statement today.
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