Public lauds additional discounts on electricity bills

Consumers were generally positive towards the government’s offer of additional discounts under Bantuan Prihatin Elektrik Tambahan to address their complaints about high electricity bills during the movement control order (MCO) period.

Chew Hoong Ling said she was grateful to the government for addressing the people’s complaints.

The authorities even waived charges for those whose monthly electricity bills came up to RM77 in April, May and June, she noted.

“This government is quick in taking action, as they listened to the grouses on the ground and responded immediately. Amazing,” she said.

Chew’s monthly electricity bill is below RM100.

“But I have yet to get the bills for the MCO period. I know people were jumping up and down when they saw that their bills were unusually high,” she said.

R. Meena, 47, a homemaker whose monthly bill is RM80, wished she had used a little less electricity.

“I could have qualified for the fee waiver.

“Anyway, based on the package offered, I only need to pay a little,” she said.

Composer Bob Lokman, who shot to popularity for the song Isabela, said firms managing water and electricity should not look at profits and gains.

“My electricity bill went up from about RM100 a month to RM300 during the MCO period,” he said.

The 56-year-old has been staying at home in Kelantan for the last decade because of health issues.

“And it is not fair if the discounts offered are based on those inflated figures,” he said.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah yesterday announced that the Prime Minister had approved an additional allocation to help ease the burden of domestic users in the peninsula following complaints of hefty electricity bills.

Under the package, April, May and June fees were waived for four million domestic consumers whose bills came up to less than RM77 a month. Consumers whose bills came up to RM231.80 would enjoy a RM77 deduction and an additional 15% discount for every month from April to June.

Those with monthly charges of up to RM395.60 would be given a RM77 deduction and a 10% discount, while those whose bills were above RM396.15 would get a RM77 deduction plus a 2% discount.