The advent of the Internet of Things has also led to the widespread use of sophisticated electrical appliances to enhance daily living, rather than as mere lifestyle accessories.
Factors like weather conditions have necessitated additional electrical appliances such as air conditioners, which have become essential for household comfort, contributing to increased energy consumption and consumers’ monthly bills.
According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Malaysia currently relies on fuel as its primary source in the electricity sector. However, there is an increasing focus on renewable energy sources such as hydro power and solar energy.
A significant portion of the tariff paid by consumers – some 70% – is to cover the cost of fuel which depends on uncontrollable global market prices.
The National Energy Balance Report 2017 indicated a higher increase in energy demand compared to gross domestic product growth, with a 9.2% rise. The study attributed this to increased domestic consumption and economic activities.
The recent adjustment of the service tax to 8% for electricity consumption exceeding 600kWh per month since March 1 may have affected a minority of users, but not the majority – 85% of households nationwide.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations CEO Saravanan shared some tips to mitigate bill increases, including:
- Turning off electrical devices when not in use, especially standby devices like air conditioners and TV decoders;
- Switching off appliances like water filters and water heater elements when not needed;
- Setting air conditioners to 24 degrees Celsius;
- Purchasing energy-efficient appliances certified by the Energy Commission.
Always monitor electricity usage
Nurul Akla Azlan, an electrical engineer from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), told FMT that the widespread adoption of work-from-home practices during the Covid-19 pandemic had increased energy consumption.
“Frequently used devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones need frequent recharging, contributing to higher electricity bills,” added Nurul Akla.
He said consumers should leverage tools like the MyTNB app developed by Tenaga Nasional Bhd, which includes features like setting monthly usage limits.
“Users will receive alerts if their electricity usage approaches the set limit,” he said.
Introduced three years ago, the app also has a “My Energy Budget” feature designed to help users with smart meters to manage their usage more effectively in real time.
For instance, if a user sets a monthly bill budget of RM150, they will receive notifications if their energy usage is nearing that amount.
Alternative sources
For Amir Abdul Razak, a senior lecturer at UMPSA’s mechanical and automotive technology faculty, utilising solar energy to reduce monthly electricity bills should be considered for long-term benefits, especially after the government introduced the “Solar for Rakyat Incentive Scheme” (Solaris).
Solaris aims to encourage the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in residential areas under the Clean Energy Metering programme.
“Solar panels typically have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years and can generate free electricity for decades.
“In the long run, this can offset initial investment costs and provide significant financial savings,” he said, suggesting that commercial and domestic users switch to solar PV panels.