OVER 656,000 electricity consumers in Sabah and Labuan will not be affected by tariff hikes from January 1 until June 30 following the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) scheme. 

The Energy Commission in a statement said domestic and non-domestic consumers who are exempt from the ICPT surcharge comprise micro, small and medium enterprises in the low-voltage commercial tariff category. 

Non-domestic consumers in Sabah and Labuan comprising commercial and industrial consumers will be charged the full ICPT surcharge at a rate of 10.04 sen per kilowatt hour (kWh). 

“The government is allocating RM212.20 million in subsidies over the six-month period to cover the cost of power generation and ensure that there is no tariff increase,” the commission said today. 

The Energy Commission said in the ICPT review from July 1 to December 31, there was an increase in fuel costs and electricity generation costs estimated at RM292.05 million, or equivalent to the ICPT surcharge at a rate of 10.04 sen/kWh. 

The increase in costs was due to the rise in the prices of diesel and medium fuel oil, which make up a part of the fuel used for electricity generation in Sabah and Labuan in addition to natural gas, resulting from the global energy crisis, which is beyond the government’s control.

In a separate statement, the commission said domestic consumers in Kulim High Technology Park (KHTP) are also exempt from the ICPT surcharge and will not experience an increase in electricity tariffs for the same six-month period. 

The ICPT surcharge of 8.19 sen/kWh is fully waived for non-domestic consumers. 

In the ICPT review period from July 1 to December 31, there was a sharper increase in fuel costs and generation costs at KHTP amounting to RM76.02 million, or equivalent to the ICPT surcharge at a rate of 8.19 sen/kWh, due to the increase in global fuel costs. 

The public has been encouraged to use energy-efficient electrical appliances, turn off switches when not in use, and perform regular maintenance on electrical equipment.

According to the Energy Commission, the public’s effort indirectly encourages them to contribute to the reduction of the country’s carbon footprint, in line with the National Energy Policy 2022-2040. – Bernama, December 28, 2022.