Thread by @walski69

So there’s been a lot of gripes regarding TNB bills in the past few days. I believe it’s reasonable to say that usage would have spiked during MCO. It’s certainly true for me.

But how were these bills calculated? And what about those discounts promised from April for 6 months?

So let’s take a look. First, here are our current domestic tariffs:
0 - 200 kWH: 21.8 sen per kWH
201 - 300: 33.4 sen per kWH
301 and more: 51.6 sen per kWH

Next, the discounts:
0 - 200 kWH: 50%
201 - 300 kWH: 25%
301 - 600 kWH: 15%
601 & above kWH: 2%

The discount applies on the TOTAL consumption for the billing period (usually 1 month).

During MCO, the last actually read meter reading is used. Let’s say it’s a consumption level of 450 kWH. And let’s assume your meter couldn’t be read for 3 consecutive months.

So 450 kWH per month means 1,350 kWH for the 3 months.

How do we calculate this usage: on a per month basis, or cumulatively for 3 months?

Rightfully, it should be on a per monthly basis, and not the cumulative 3 months.

The next few tweets will illustrate why.

CASE 1 - MONTHLY BASIS

Usage = 450 kWH
First 300 kWH:
RM 21.80 + 33.40 = RM 77.20
Balance:
450 - 300 = 150 kWH
Billed @ 51.6¢ per kWH =
RM 77.40
Total Bill: RM 154.60

Usage is 450kWH, so 15% discount

Tot discounted bill :
RM 154.60 - 23.19 = RM 131.41 -> RM 131.40

(cont.)

Meaning that for the 3 months your meter couldn’t be read, your bill would in total come up to:
3 x RM 131.41 = RM 394.23
i.e. RM 394.25 (after rounding)

CASE 2 - CUMULATIVE BASIS

Usage = 450 kWH per month
i.e. 1,350 kWH for the 3 months

First 300 kWH: RM 77.20
Balance: 1,350 - 300 = 1,050 kWH
and this is charged at 51.6¢ per kWH:
1,050 x 0.516 = RM 541.80

Total Bill: RM 541.80 + 77.00 =
RM 618.80

(cont.)

What about the discount? Well, since usage is taken as 1,350 kWH you only get 2% discount.

RM 618.80 - 12.376 = RM 606.424
= RM 606.40 (after rounding)

In other words, you’d be paying an extra RM 212.15 if your bill were calculated cumulatively.

So, check your bill to determine which method was used. I suspect those whose bills increased astronomically had theirs cumulatively calculated.

I guess I’ll find out in next month’s bill how TNB treats estimated vs. actual meter billing. Because my May 2020 is still an estimate

Regardless, I get the impression a lot of folks got googley-eyed about the 50% discount. Unless you use very, very little electricity at home, that would almost certainly never happen. A fridge consumes maybe around 2 kWH per day, or roughly 60 kWH per month.

Heating elements typically use up the most power in a typical home. So your hot water heater, electric kettle, rice cooker, etc., depending on use, would be the biggest consumers of power. Then there’s lighting, and anything else electrically powered in your home.

So anyway, check your bill and see how TNB has calculated your usage.

Hope this thread has been helpful...