Malaysia cuts power rates

Malaysia cuts power rates

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's power utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd. will reduce power charges for lower-end consumers under a tariff revamp which could see higher electricity rates for all other sectors, news reports said yesterday.

Tenaga deputy general manager Nik Mohamed Nik Abdullah said the state-owned utility would charge a minimum 20 sen (US$0.08) for the first 200 units of power used, extending the rate from just 100 units currently.

Subsequent units are currently charged at 22 sen with an escalation to 26 sen at the higher end.

The government said last week the tariff review was part of the country's anti-inflation drive but analysts pointed out that Tenaga's total tariff restructuring was expected to see higher power rates for all other sectors.