Many residential consumers are still unaware that they can read their own electricity meters and say goodbye to estimated bills.
Tenaga Nasional Bhd has introduced the Self Meter Reading (SMR) service for domestic Ordinary Power Customers since early this year but only 530 customers have signed up for it as of end of last month.
Its customer service and marketing department general manager Nirinder Singh Johl said the SMR would benefit those who receive estimated electricity bills frequently or disagree with the estimated readings.
“It allows customers to read the meter themselves for three consecutive months, with TNB conducting the reading every fourth month to calibrate and ensure everything is in order.
“The SMR provides another option to customers especially those who are unhappy with estimate readings and prefer to read the meters themselves,
“This is convenient for those whose meters are inside their compounds but are not at home when the meter readers come by. We hope more will sign up for the service,” he said in an interview.
To sign up for the service, one needs to complete an application form which is available online and submit it to TNB either by fax, e-mail or to a nearby customer service centre along with a copy of their identity card.
“Once the application has been processed, customers can then start sending their meter readings either via TNB’s e-services (https://e-services.tnb.com.my/) or by sending a SMS to 15454.
“The bill will then be issued,” he said, adding that customers would be given a three-day bracket to submit the reading after receiving the notification via e-mail or SMS.
Over one million of TNB’s six million customers, he said, were affected by the bi-monthly reading method, whereby an estimate reading is taken every other month.
The estimate is the average cost of the electricity consumed over the past six months. The system is practised in many developed countries.
“We already have a mechanism in place to ensure that customers are not short-changed.
“Adjustments are made to the bill during the actual reading to ensure it is accurate,” he added.
Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah welcomed the system, stating that it was “logical” for consumers to read their own meters.
“All consumers must take the initiative to monitor their electricity use. They save on their bills while TNB can save on the cost of billing.”
On concerns that irresponsible consumers might try to “under-declare” their bills, Muhammad Sha’ani said the outstanding amount could be ascertained when the TNB reads the bill for the fourth month.
Log on to www.tnb.com.my or contact TNB’s careline at 1300-88-5454 for more information.
