Here They Go Again : Electric Tariff To be Increased

[TepenPucong]

I've read this news from Utusan Malaysia today :

Kadar bayaran elektrik mungkin naik Januari 2005
Oleh: NOR AZIAH JAAFAR

PUTRAJAYA 12 Ogos - Kadar tarif elektrik kemungkinan akan dinaikkan Januari tahun depan berikutan peningkatan keperluan serta perubahan harga minyak dan gas di pasaran.

Timbalan Menteri Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi, Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor berkata, kali terakhir kadar tarif elektrik dinaikkan ialah pada tahun 1997, oleh itu pengguna perlu bersedia menghadapi kenaikan pada masa depan kerana kadar sekarang tidak mungkin boleh dikekalkan sampai bila-bila.

Bagaimanapun, katanya keputusan untuk menaikkannya akan ditentukan selepas mengambil kira keseluruhan situasi tersebut.

``Sehingga akhir tahun ini tidak akan berlaku kenaikan kadar tarif elektrik.

``Namun menjelang Januari tahun depan kita perlu melihat semula harga gas dan diesel serta keperluan lain dan barulah kita akan pertimbangkan sama ada terdapat keperluan terhadap kenaikan kadar tarif sedia ada,'' katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas merasmikan Forum Tenaga Boleh Diperbaharui dan Kecekapan Tenaga: Hala Tuju Masa Depan anjuran Pusat Tenaga Malaysia dan Pertubuhan Profesional Tenaga Malaysia (MEPA) di sini hari ini.

Katanya, pada masa ini tarif elektrik di Malaysia adalah antara yang terendah di rantau ini iaitu 23.5 sen per kiloWatt (per kWh) berbanding Singapura 32.3 sen per kWh dan Filipina 38.8 sen per kWh.

Katanya, kerajaan seboleh-bolehnya cuba menghindar daripada menaikkan kadar tersebut namun tenaga yang kini dihasilkan melalui gas dan diesel memerlukan subsidi yang besar daripada kerajaan.

Justeru katanya, kerajaan sedang cuba mengurangkan pembaziran elektrik dengan menggalakkan penggunaan tenaga yang diperbaharui.

Beliau memberitahu, kerajaan menyasarkan pengeluaran tenaga yang diperbaharui sebanyak lima peratus menjelang akhir tahun depan bagaimanapun jumlah tersebut telah pun berjaya dicapai iaitu lebih awal daripada yang ditetapkan.

``Lima peratus tenaga yang diperbaharui ini belum dihubungkan dengan pencawang dan cuma digunakan oleh pengusaha-pengusaha ladang kelapa sawit,'' katanya.

For those who don't understand the news, it simply says that the government is going to increase the electric tariff by 2005. This is due to the hike of raw material used to produce electric (i.e. petrol, diesel, gas etc.) and the government cannot afford to subsidized the increase. But then again, our tariff is still considered to be lower than other ASEAN countries.

And again the same reason given.

[CH]

Timbalan Menteri Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi, Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor berkata, kali terakhir kadar tarif elektrik dinaikkan ialah pada tahun 1997, oleh itu pengguna perlu bersedia menghadapi kenaikan pada masa depan kerana kadar sekarang tidak mungkin boleh dikekalkan sampai bila-bila.

Why I find this so familar?

[CH]

Yup! That is the same word that was used for increasing price for toll, water, driving license, stamp, ....

Boy, can they come out with something new?

Like,

"...If you compare the rate that we going to increase, with the price 30 years later, you will find that this increament is a very small sum and very affordable ..."

[TepenPucong]

Seems that they always used other countries price as comparisson, does anybody here knew whether other countries also increase or review their rates based on the current situation?How often do they do it?

And one question had just came up to me, if other countries rate are that high, are we supposed to follow them too? Why don't just stay low?

[chewps]

if other countries' rates are high, may be their salaries are high too.
mmm.... last night just heard the news of the requested 2 months bonus for public servant. so this is how government help people to spend

[KH EE]

like i wrote b4 & i'll write again, what happened to OUR oil pumped up by petronas? i know OUR oil is of the highest grade & used 4 planes only. surely the higher the world oil prices, the more petronas will raked in - so what happened to these extra monies?

so is the govt saying..."ah this monies MINE" whatever price increases is YOURS! kapish?" eh???

the sg. besi toll rates hv increased & so will petrol prices come this sep 1 or oct 1 - mark my words!

[Mason]

Only solution for them not to keep comparing rates of neighbouring countries is by pegging RM1 to USD1. Problem solved. We have the highest rates then.

Our currency problem should be solved before comparing rates.

what do you think?

[CH]

Here goes the good old days again.

[suertes]

The Argentinians did peg their peso 1 for 1 US Dollar. There was much celebration for a while, but then it all fell apart and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth.. and a revolving door Presidency. Let's not try to go down that road, ever..

[KH EE]

from http://www.bernama.com.my

Business
--------------------------------------------------------
August 17, 2004 13:35 PM

No Hike In Electricity Tariff, Says Dr Lim

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- There is no need for a hike in electricity tariff despite the recent increase in oil prices, said Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

"This is because a major portion of the fuel for the energy sector is gas powered and currently there are no changes yet as to the price of gas determined by Petronas under the power purchase agreement with power producers in the country," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after the launch of the Telecommunications Conference Organised by Avenue Securities, here Tuesday.

Dr Lim said that 70 percent of the fuel for the energy sector is derived from gas, 20 percent from coal and the rest from hydro.

"Electricity tariff hike will not be in co-relation to rising oil prices and will only response to efficiency in services," he said.