Longhouses left out of lower tariffs if not connected to grid — Fatimah

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KUCHING: Dalat assemblywoman Datuk Fatimah Abdullah hopes the 30 longhouses in her constituency that still depend on generator sets for electricity will be connected to the state grid to enable them to enjoy the lower tariffs as announced by the chief minister.

Lauding the chief minister for reducing the electricity tariffs in the wake of rising cost of living, the Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development lamented that rural dwellers whose homes were yet to be connected to the state power grid would not get to benefit from the announcement.

“The lower electricity tariffs are of course very welcomed especially for the low-income group. It is very good. Having said that, some of those, for example, in my area, still do not have electricity. And the good news does not affect them.

“We hope that through the budget, both federal and state that are rural development biased, that those areas that still do not enjoy electricity supply will have this basic amenity soon,” she said when met by reporters after opening an international conference at a leading hotel here yesterday.

On the longhouses in her constituency, she said their residents had to fork out between RM200 and RM300 a month to run the generator sets.

“They need at least RM200 a month to buy fuel and that is not for 24 hours but only from 6pm to 6am. Sometimes, to economise, they run the generator set only from 6pm to midnight.

“But the amount they pay for the generator sets is just like paying for air-conditioning. Which is why I really, really hope the areas, not just my constituency, that have yet to be provided with electricity, will get it so as to enjoy the lower tariffs.”

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem on Wednesday announced that electricity tariffs for all domestic customers in the state would be revised downward effective January next year.