RM40-rebate to benefit 185,803 hardcore, poor consumers

KUCHING: The existing RM20electricity rebate, to be replaced by the RM40- rebate for those registered under e-Kasih effective Jan 1, has benefited 1.1 million consumers nationwide.

This fact was picked up from the official website of the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Envi ronment and Climate Change.

The new policy of RM40-rebate is set to benefit only 185,803 hardcore poor and poor consumers, and this figure is based on the e-Kasih database updated on July 31, 2018.

According to the ministry, the federal government has to provide a subsidy of RM150 million a year to keep the RM20-rebate programme running.

The RM20-rebate programme was implemented by the federal government in October, 2008.

However, under the new RM40rebate programme, the federal government is expected to fork out RM30 million less. The ministry said the RM20-rebate programme is meant for all electricity consumers including non-Malaysians.

With the review, it is said that the subsidy is intended for Malaysians who are registered under the eKasih programme, which is meant for households earning RM950 and below.

Und e r the RM2 0 - r ebat e programme, consumers who registered a monthly consumption of above RM20 had to pay the full amount instead of the balance.

But under the new RM40 - rebate, eligible consumers whose electricity bills exceed the subsidised amount are expected to pay only the balance.

For instance, if an eligible consumer’s electricity bill is RM64.90, he needs to pay only RM24.90.

For as long as the electricity bill of the eligible consumers does not exceed RM40, they do not need to pay a single sen.

It is also mentioned that the RM40- rebate programme runs from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2019 and applies only to consumers who fall under Tariff A ( Domestic).

In Malaysia, t hose with household earnings of RM600 and below are categorised as hardcore poor while those earning RM950 and below are termed as poor.

To f ind out whether you are eligible for the new RM40 rebate programme, visit https:// semakanrebat.mestecc.gov.my.

In Sarawak, consumers can also call Sarawak Energy Berhad’s hotline at 1300- 88- 3311.