Making some minor changes can help you to save a lot on your Electricity bills. Here are easy ways to reduce your electricity which in turn, will help you to save money!

If you didn’t already know, the electricity tariffs may increase soon. As of now, Malaysians are enjoying a rebate of 1.52 sen per kilowatt hour (kWh). However, this rebate may reduce or be removed due to the high prices of fuel and coal, as well as the weak ringgit. The government has agreed to maintain the 1.52 SEN/kWh power tariff rebate from 1^st July to 30^th December 2017. But, the time frame stated raises doubt on whether the rebate will continue after 30^th December 2017. If not, it will mean an electricity tariff increase for Malaysians in the peninsular regions.

As a quick background, the electricity tariff in peninsular Malaysia is 38.53 sen per kilowatt-hour (sen/kWh), and 34.52 sen/kWh in Sabah and Sarawak. As for the rebates, it has been in place since March 2015. The next electricity tariff revision will be in January 2018.  The base tariff also takes into account the base price of key fuel such as piped gas, coal and liquefied natural gas.

Coal and gas account for 50.8 per cent and 45.2 per cent of the total electricity power generation in peninsular Malaysia. While the rest of Malaysia’s electricity power are generated from hydro.

Apparently, the electricity tariff in Malaysia for residential, industrial and commercial segments is among the lowest in the Asian region. The cost of electricity will influence household expenses and spending. But of course, the electricity tariff may need to increase in tandem with inflation and the increase in cost of fuel needed to generate electricity.

As such, here are our tips to help you save on electricity spending.

Lower Your Electricity Bill with Solar Panels

Consider installing solar panels for your home. However, this option may not be for everyone because of its initial costly measures. But if you can afford it, you will be doing your bit for the environment and also your bank account as you can cut your Energy usage by 75%, especially since we do enjoy a decent amount of sun here in Malaysia.

Keep the Sun Out

The downside to living in sunny Malaysia is that it can get really hot. Most of us turn on the air conditioner to make it bearable. As it may sound absurd for some to live without air conditioner in Malaysia, you can minimize the cost of using it. Make sure you make the most of using an air conditioner by drawing the curtains and blinds on the sunny side of your home. For even more savings, consider installing tinted window at sunny parts of your home. This will make it faster to cool that area and can lower energy usage.

Switch off Appliances with High Energy Cost

Did you know that some devices have a more significant impact than others? Here are electrical Appliances you with high energy cost that you should watch out for:

• Modern video game systems (e.g. Xbox 360, PS4)
• Electric kettles
• Always switched on desktop computers
• Television sets (especially plasma display TV)

Reducing energy consumption for electronics will require actually turning them off. In the case of computers, even when it is on sleep mode it can draw a decent amount of power, so shut it off completely when not in use. The same goes for lap top plugs, phone chargers, and more. Most of us leave these appliances plugged in even when we are not using it, and this causes energy wastage and can increase energy consumption. Turn appliances off when not in use, preferably at the main power outlet. Switch it off at the main power as many appliances continue to draw stand-by power when switched off, so you need to cut all source of power which means even the main power. If not, it can contribute up to 10% of household electricity use

Rearrange your appliances

Having major appliances next to each other can actually cost double the amount of energy being used. For example, if your washing machine is located near you refrigerator or another main appliance, consider moving it. Aside from that, make sure you place fridge and freezer in a cool spot, where it is not exposed to the sun and away from other heat source such as oven or the stove as this will result in more energy usage in order for the fridge to stay cool. Do also make sure that the back of your refrigerator is properly ventilated because it produces heat, and the heat emitted should have space to move. Remember, proper layout arrangement of appliances is important as it can help to maximise efficiency of appliances.

Check It Out


Before purchasing any appliances or electrical gadgets, check how much watt it will consume. A simple way to do that is by using the TNB appliance calculator, which will give you an estimate of how much that appliance or gadget you’re thinking of buying would add to your electricity bill.

Air Conditioning Tips 


If you use air conditioning in your house, here are a few tips. When using it at night, make sure to set it on a timer so it switches off when you doze off. Be sure to also service it to make sure it runs well and is cost effective. Additionally, install it away from direct sunlight and ensure that the size and horsepower of the air conditioning is suitable for the size of the room.

See also: Ways to Save on Air Conditioning Costs in Malaysia

Ironing Session

Do your ironing in a big session because it will be more cost effective as well as more energy efficient. So rather than ironing one or two pieces of clothing item as you go along, try do arrange for a time where you do your ironing in big batches.

Check Energy Consumption


Calculate your daily and monthly electricity usage so you know how much you’re spending on electricity. If you’ve been guilty of falling asleep with your TV switched on, you’ll now know how much it has been costing you all this while. A nifty calculator you can use is the TNB energy usage calculator, which will give you an estimate of your energy consumption.

The Right Light

Replace your existing bulbs with LED bulbs. Although it may cost you a little more now, in the long run you will be saving money as LED bulbs lasts longer, and they are also more energy efficient. If you can’t replace them all at once, you can replace a few bulbs first, which will be more budget friendly.

The Power Factor

Improve your power factor. Power factor is an index used to determine the efficiency level of the electricity usage of your appliances. Basically, it is the amount of power appliances needs in order to run. Having a low power factor means that your machines and appliances are inefficient. To know more about power factors, the surcharge and how it works, check out the explanation from TNB here.

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The post 10 Easy Ways To Save Money On Electricity [Updated] appeared first on Financial News and Advice in Malaysia.