KUCHING: Sixty thousand more consumers in the low-income bracket will find reasons to rejoice when a tariff revision takes effect next year January 1.
On top of the 70,000 consumers already eligible for the federal government’s RM20 subsidy, the electricity tariff revision will see a total 130,000 low-income customers receiving a zero-monthly bill.
Designed by the state government to provide assistance to the low-income bracket, the tariff reduction announced today by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly will also affect consumers in other income brackets.
For the 50,000 customers not eligible for the Federal Government subsidy and are consuming up to 150 units per month, the tariff will be reduced by more than 40%. Furthermore, the 50,000 customers consuming between 150 and 200 units will get a reduction in tariff of 30%.
The 80,000 people presently consuming between 200 and 300 units per month will get a reduction in tariff of just below 20%. The 50,000 presently consuming between 300 and 400 units per month will benefit from a reduction of approximately 10%.
The final 125,000 customers, with the largest monthly consumption of more than 400 units will get a reduction of between 2% to 4%.
In total, 240,000 customers or close to 50% of Sarawak Energy Berhad’s customers will benefit from a tariff reduction of between 20% and more than 40%.