KUCHING, Nov 8: The Utilities Ministry believes that more than 22,000 households will benefit from the new policy of free electricity connection of up to RM5,000 or 70 per cent subsidies for connection charges between RM5,000 to RM10,000.
“The announcement of free electricity connection charges of up to RM5000 along with subsidies of up to 70 per cent for connection charges between RM5,000 and RM10,000 for low income urban households is timely.
“More than 22,000 households comprising low income urban households as well as rural households supplied under current rural electrification programs will benefit from this new policy, easing financial burden.
“We believe this will also expedite our vision to achieve full electricity coverage by 2025 or earlier, providing 24-hour access to reliable, renewable and affordable supply. This programme will be effective from 1st January 2020,” said Utilities Ministry in a statement today.
Meanwhile, on the provision of free water for the first RM5 of the monthly water bill, the ministry pointed out that it is “one of the initiatives of the Sarawak Government to reduce the financial burden, especially for the rural communities in Sarawak”.
“The rationale for the RM5 is based on the average monthly water bill per account of the rural communities.
“It is estimated that a total of 600,000 domestic and rural consumers in Sarawak will benefit from this initiative,” said the statement.
The initiative costs the Sarawak Government about RM40 million per year. — DayakDaily
