Grumbles and complaints can be heard at every bus stop, LRT station, coffee shop, mamak stall and shopping mall as people talk to each other…”Everything going up!” “Wah, nowadays so expensive..”, “How to survive like this ah?”
Yes, the recent slew of price hikes have hit Malaysian consumers hard. Widespread dissatisfaction has set in. The middle class and poor feel more and more burdened by the price hikes over the existing cost of living.
But friends, many things in our lives are not within our control.
The reasons underlying the price hikes are complex and multi-faceted; and while we can grumble and complain endlessly, ultimately we can change nothing. Why not accept that reality, come to terms with the fact that in almost all countries in the world, people complain about governments and policies and rising costs, and adjust your mindset out of “complaining” mode into “survival” mode.
Understanding the Price Hikes
Let’s instead focus on understanding the price hikes, and then formulating plans to minimize their impact on us, our families and our households. This is definitely a better use of time, than wasting time and energy complaining.
In this article, we will look at the electricity tariff hike.
What does it mean and more importantly, what does it mean for you?
Basically, electricity tariffs have increased between 15%-17% for Peninsula Malaysia and Labuan. The new rates applied since 1.1.14 onwards, but rebates will be in place until the end of the 2014 calendar year for those consumers with very low electricity consumption – that is, less than RM 20 per month.
What does this translate to in ringgit and sen? It means that electricity is projected to go up to 4.99 sen more per kWh or 14.89% for Peninsular Malaysia (the current average rate is 33.54 sen/kWh to 38.53 sen/kWh) whereas for Sabah and Labuan, it is expected to be up 5.0 sen per kWh or 16.9% (the current average rate is 29.52 sen per kWh to 34.52 sen per kWh)
Are YOU affected by the hike?
If you are consuming less than 300 kWh, you will not actually see any increase in your bill. On the other hand, if it is between 301 to 400 kWh and 401 to 600 kWh, then yes, you will see an increase in your electricity bill.
Now, based on statistics from various online and offline sources, let’s talk about household appliances and how much they cost you.
Let us say, you use a laptop computer which takes up maybe, 65 watts an hour. In order to hit the 300kWh mark, you’d need to use it for 4,615 hours…that’s quite a lot of Facebook time don’t you think? ?
Jokes aside, obviously, it’s not just a laptop alone – there are other appliances to think of, the use of which could add up to push the consumer into the increased payment bracket. So yes, as consumers, we should be mindful.
So, what’s the best thing for us to do given that our household might be amongst those facing the price hike? Stop complaining about the electricity tariff hike and channel your energy into positive action! ?
Try these SMART energy tips below.
- Unplug your regular appliances or switch them off at the mains. Leaving appliances in standby mode still allows for electricity consumption when you are not using the appliance.
- Develop the habit of turning off lights, fans and air conditions when you leave the room.
- Teach your kids to conserve electricity and be conscious of the need to turn off lights, fans and air conditions when they leave the room.
- Lower the pressure on your water heater. That super-booster water heater you’ve installed, could be sucking up more electricity than you realize.
- Air dry your laundry rather than using a dryer. Driers take up electricity.
- If you do use a drier, remove your clothes before they’re completely dry as they will be easier to iron.
- Don’t keep your fridge and freezer too empty as this wastes electricity. At the same time, don’t over-stuff them either.
- Use energy-saving bulbs.
- C heck the seal on appliances such as fridges.
- Make use of natural wind and breezes to cool down your living areas by opening windows. Don’t always rely on fans and air conditions.
