UNDERSTANDING YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL
The electric bill - it comes once a month. Most of us glance at the balance due, and make plans to pay that amount. But the electric bill is more than just the amount owed. The bill is full of information that can be useful in helping you better understand your electric usage
HOW TO READ YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL
Your electricity bill contains a lot of information. This page will help you understand the most important billing components in your electricity bill.
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Consumption Charges (kWh) / Caj Kegunaan
Customer electricity consumption will be charge as their usage. For residential customers, their usage are usually charged based on five block price rate.
The rates are as stated in Pricing & Tariff.
The unit for the consumption used is kWh.
Note: If billing period is above 31 days, proration factor applies
Example:
Customer A has a consumption of 350 kWh in his July 2018 bill. Based on price rate stated in Tariff book, the consumption will be divided into blocks as below
Consumption block Usage (kWh) Rate (RM/kWh) 200 200 0.218 100 100 0.334 300 50 0.516 Total consumption rate=(200 x 0.218) + (100 x 0.334) + (50 x 0.516)=RM102.80 -
Individual Street Light (ISL) / Lampu Jalan Individu
Domestic Customer that requires street light for their own consumption.
The charges applicable for street lighting are as below:
Wattage Rate 70 W RM 0.274/kWh/day 150 W RM 0.183/kWh/day 100 W RM 0.274/kWh/day ISL consumption is derived from below formula:
kWhISL=Total number of bulbs x Total Number of billing days x 12 x (Wattage/1000)ISL (RM)=kWhISL x Rate
Example 1: Customer with billing period below 31 days
Customer has installed ISL with the below installation properties
Two 150 W bulbs
Total Number of billing days = 25 days
Unit kWh ISL=2 x 25 days x 12 hours x (150 W/1000)=90 kWhISL RM=90 kWh x RM 0.183/kWh=RM 16.47Example 2: Customer with billing period above 31 days
Customer has installed ISL with the below installation properties
Two 150 W bulbs
Total Number of billing days = 33 days
Unit kWh ISL=2 x 33 days x 12 hours x (150 W/1000)=119 kWhISL RM=119 kWh x RM 0.183/kWh/day=RM 21.74 -
Temporary Load Charges / Bekalan Sementara
A consumer who applies for temporary supply shall be charged at the tariff rate appropriate to their category plus 33% surcharge on the current monthly bill. This is mostly applicable for construction site that requires temporary supply for their workers home.
Example:
A construction site applies for temporary supply for the workers house. The January 2018 bill will have the following billing components charges
Consumption charges (kWh) = RM55.20
ISL charges (RM) = RM12.00
ICPT* = RM1.30
Temporary Load Charge=(Consumption Charges + ISL Charges + ICPT) x Temporary Load Charge Rate=(55.20 + 12.00 + 1.30) x 33%=RM 22.61*Rate may varies every 6 months
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Minimum Monthly Charges / Caj Minima Bulanan
Monthly charge applicable to a consumer in the event of monthly total electricity bill (kWh) is less than RM3.00. If consumption is 0 kWh, the RM3.00 is imposed in the bill.
The formula used to determine Monthly Minimum Charges are as following:
TMCC charges – (kWh charges + Discount Amount + ICPT)For more details, please refer to Pricing & Tariff
Example 1 : Customer with consumption = 0 kWh and billing period of 31 days
Customer A’s Jan 2018 bill shows usage of 0 kWh:
Consumption charges (kWh) = RM0.00
Discount TNB (10%) = RM0.00
Minimum monthly charges=RM 3.00 – RM (0 + 0.00 – 0.00)=RM 3.00Example 2: : Customer with consumption = 7 kWh and billing period of 32 days
Customer A’s Jan 2018 bill shows usage of 7 kWh:
Consumption charges (kWh) : 7 kWh x RM 0.218 = RM 1.53
Discount TNB (10%) = RM 0.15
Proration Factor (32/30 days) = 1.06667
Minimum monthly charges should be applied=1.06667 x RM3.00=RM3.20Since the consumption charges=RM 1.53The Monthly Minimum Charges=RM 3.20 – RM 1.53 - RM 0.15=RM 1.52 -
Imbalance Cost Pass Through (ICPT)
Imbalance Cost Pass Through (ICPT) is a mechanism under the Incentive Based Regulation (IBR) framework which allows for TNB, as the utility, to reflect changes in fuel and other generation-related costs in the electricity tariff. This is because these costs are set based on benchmarked prices in the base tariff.
The implementation of ICPT, which occurs every 6 months, would reflect the actual costs in tariff in the form of rebate or surcharge. Furthermore, the impact of ICPT implementation is neutral on TNB and will not have any effect on its business operations and financial position.
As announced by the Energy Commission on 22 December 2023, the Government has agreed to continue the implementation of the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) mechanism for the period of 1 January 2024 – 30 June 2024. The ICPT quantum for the period is as follows:
Imbalance Cost Pass Through (ICPT) formula = Total kWh Consumption x ICPT Rate (sen/kWh).
Example 1: ICPT Calculation for Domestic, Tariff A
Consumption in April 2024 is 500kWh, ICPT rate is –RM0.02/kWh
ICPT rebate
= 500kWh x (-0.02)
= - RM 10.00
Example 2: ICPT Calculation for Domestic, Tariff A
Consumption in April 2024 is 1,500kWh, ICPT rate is RM0.00/kWh
Therefore, there is no ICPT charge or rebate
Example 3: ICPT Calculation for Domestic, Tariff A
Consumption in April 2024 is 1,501kWh, ICPT rate is RM0.10/kWh
ICPT surcharge
=1,501 kWh x (0.10)
=RM 150.10
Find out more info in ICPT FAQ and https://myelectricitybill.my
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Service Tax (ST)
Under Service Tax Act 2018, provision of electricity is prescribed as a taxable service subject to 6% Service Tax. As a registered taxable person, TNB is complied to charge Service Tax for provision of electricity.
First Schedule (Regulation 3), Service Tax Regulation 2018 clearly states the provision of electricity to any Domestic Customer excluding for the first 600 kWh for a minimum period of 28 days per billing cycle consumed by the customer.
Therefore, Service Tax (ST) at the rate of 6% will be charged in TNB electricity bills for Residential Customer with consumption more than 600 kWh @ RM 231.80 effective from 1 September 2018.
Service Tax in the bill for the month of Aug/Sept 2018 will be prorated
TNB as a taxable person have to charge the Service Tax as stipulated in the Service Tax Act 2018. The tax collected will be remitted to Royal Malaysian Custom Department.
The 28 day billing rule is applicable where the entire consumption will be charged Service Tax if the billing period is less than 28 days.
The amount of ST charged will be clearly stated in the electricity bill issued to customer for the items which are subject to ST.
The billing components related to consumption (kWh) is subjected to Service Tax are:
Energy Consumption (kWh)
Discounts (Service Tax will be calculated after discount)
Imbalance Cost Pass Through (ICPT)
Temporary Load Charge
For more information, you can visit Royal Malaysian Custom Department website at mysst.customs.gov.my
Example 1: Customer with consumption > 600 kWh @ above RM 231.80 where billing period is 31 days (above 28 days)
Example 2: Customer with consumption < 600 kWh but billing period is 26 days (below 28 days)
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Kumpulan Wang Tenaga Boleh Baharu (KWTBB) / RE Fund
RE Fund (KWTBB) is a fund collected by the Government through consumer’s electricity consumption. The Fund will be used to promote growth of electricity generation from renewable energy resources.
In line with the Renewable Energy Act 2011 (RE Act 2011), the Renewable Energy (RE) fund (KWTBB) is collected through a surcharge of consumers’ electricity consumption at the rate of 1.6%.
TNB is only the collecting agent of the fund for the Government.
Surcharge of RE Fund (KWTBB) applies to all customers except for domestic customers with electricity consumption of 300 kWh @ RM 77.00 and below per month.
RE Fund (KWTBB) surcharge is calculated as follows: RE Fund (KWTBB) Surcharge = 1.6% × [(kWh+kW) – Discounts]
The RE Fund (KWTBB) collected from the customer’s electricity bill is channelled to the Government (SEDA - Sustainable Energy Development Authority). For more information, you can visit this website: seda.gov.my
Example:
Customer A uses consumption of 400 kWh and has an Individual Street Light (ISL) attach to his account.
The KWTBB charges on his bill will show as below:Consumption charges = RM87.20 for 400 kWh
ISL Charges = RM12.00
10 % TNB Discount = RM 8.72
RE Fund (KWTBB) Surcharge=1.6% x [(87.20+12.00) – 8.72)]=RM 1.45 -
1% Late Payment Surcharge
When it is imposed
The penalty charge will be imposed if payment is made later than 30 days after the bill dateHow it is calculated
The amount is calculated based on 1% (simple interest) of the outstanding bill amount, multiplied by number of days outstanding.Waivers
This penalty cannot be waived unless proven to be an administrative error on TNB’s part.How to Avoid it
Please pay your bill within 30 days from the bill date.Example:
Total billed amount: RM1,000.00
Bill date: 1 May 2018
Date of payment: 10 June 2018
Days outstanding: 10 days
So, the penalty charge=RM1,000 x 1% x (10/30)=RM 3.33 -
Prorate Factor
Proration factor applied by TNB will benefit the customers whose meter is read above 31 days.
Any billing period above 31 days will be prorated.
Proration Factor = Number of billing days / 30
Prorated Factor will be multiplied with each tariff block. Customer will benefit lower rate for expanded consumption block range.
Example:
Customer A receives Jan 2018 bill with 32 days billing period with consumption 400 kWh
Proration Factor=32/30=1.06667Consumption
block (default)Usage (kWh) - Prorated Rate (RM/kWh) 200 200 x 1.06667 = 213 0.218 100 100 x 1.06667 = 107 0.334 300 400 – 213 – 107 = 80 0.516 Total Consumption Rate=(213 x 0.218) + (107 x 0.334) + (80 x 0.516)=RM 123.45
