By Anita Gabriel (Starbizweek, Saturday 27 February 2010)
Since July 2008, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) announced that rise in electricity tariffs in Malaysia to enable the extra cost bourne by TNB to be passed to the end users. However, the public were informed that the higher rates will fluctuates depending on the price of oil, and a review on the tariffs will be done every six months. So in March 2009, with the price of natural gas supplied cut, the public received a reduction in tariff rates. The next tariff review, supposedly in June did not take place and has caused much anxiety throughout the months of September to December of 2009.
With the usher of a new year, the writer foresee that a rise in electricity soon. As mentioned by Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin, “the rates will be raised soon given the general policy direction of gradually dismantling gas subsidies in the power sector to reduce the Government’s financial burden as well as to enhance market efficiency”.
According to the writer, tariff rates in Malaysia are affected by two factors:
i) Political motive
ii) Economy crisis
Therefore, since Malaysia had engaged in many events since June 2008, the most significant is the 40% renewable energy commitment to Copenhagen 2009, a review on the June 2008 plan should be made to ensure a better, stronger and more acceptable system. We need to consider factors such as public acceptance, average public income, projected GDP in 2010, and maybe a switch to cheaper supply of renewable energy ie. Biogas and hydroelectric to substitute natural gas to create a win-win situation between TNB and the public.
With the usher of a new year, the writer foresee that a rise in electricity soon. As mentioned by Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin, “the rates will be raised soon given the general policy direction of gradually dismantling gas subsidies in the power sector to reduce the Government’s financial burden as well as to enhance market efficiency”.
According to the writer, tariff rates in Malaysia are affected by two factors:
i) Political motive
ii) Economy crisis
Therefore, since Malaysia had engaged in many events since June 2008, the most significant is the 40% renewable energy commitment to Copenhagen 2009, a review on the June 2008 plan should be made to ensure a better, stronger and more acceptable system. We need to consider factors such as public acceptance, average public income, projected GDP in 2010, and maybe a switch to cheaper supply of renewable energy ie. Biogas and hydroelectric to substitute natural gas to create a win-win situation between TNB and the public.
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