KUALA LUMPUR – The government will study alternatives, including discounts for T20 electricity consumers who install solar panels on their homes, as they will no longer benefit from targeted subsidies, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat today.
The natural resources, environment, and climate change minister was replying to Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH) who suggested that the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) consider providing discounts to T20 electricity consumers who have solar panels installed in their homes.
Nik Nazmi said there will be “alternatives” for T20 electricity consumers, once the national utility database (Padu) system is in place, which will see T20 consumers paying market rates for electricity.
“Many T20 consumers, especially in the Klang Valley, have landed properties and (if they) install solar panels, then the transition to wider use of solar power can begin and we will study how to encourage more (solar power) usage.
“Even though they are the T20, they still have to fork out upfront RM30,000, RM40,000 (to install solar panels). It is a big cost so if we can make the financing easier, we will study it,” Nik Nazmi said in his winding-up speech after the debate on the amendment bill for the Renewable Energy Act 2011.
Earlier, Kok suggested a 20% discount for T20 households that use solar panels.
She said she had received complaints from consumers in her constituency over higher electricity bills once they are no longer eligible for tariff subsidies.
She said a 20% discount would be appropriate since the T20 already pay 24% of their income to taxes, and also formed the bulk of domestic consumers who could afford solar panels.
The government has reiterated several times that subsidies are to be based on need, and that it is working on targeted mechanisms.
On May 22, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat there would be no more electricity subsidies as well as haj financial assistance for those in the T20 group. – The Vibes, May 25, 2023
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