TNB Vows To Take Action Against Employees Who Threaten Consumers With Power Theft Charges
Consumers have allegedly been threatened with charges of power theft while lodging complaints for unusually high electricity bills.
By Jia Vern Tham — 30 May 2019, 03:43 PM
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) vows to take action against employees who allegedly issued threats against customers recently
According to China Press, a TNB representative stressed that the company will not tolerate employees who are found to have threatened consumers with charges of electricity theft.
"We hope the public will lodge reports with TNB so we can launch internal investigations," the representative was quoted as saying by China Press.
A local think tank claimed that TNB employees had been cautioning consumers against filing complaints over unusually high electricity bills, according to a China Press report on 29 May
In an interview with China Press, Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER) senior manager Lin Su Fang alleged that consumers have been threatened with charges of power theft while lodging complaints for high electricity bills with the utility company.
Lin also chided TNB for not explaining the increased charges and noted that consumers cannot be charged for power theft without evidence.
TNB has been receiving complaints of unusually high electricity bills across the country in recent weeks
Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment, and Climatic Change (MESTECC) Yeo Bee Yin revealed that she had received over 300 complaints across Malaysia regarding the incident within this month, reported Malay Mail on 28 May.
"This is an anomaly. Something is happening and must be looked into," Yeo was quoted as saying by New Straits Times on Tuesday.
She added that she has instructed the EC to investigate the unusual electricity charges by TNB, despite an explanation from the company that the extra charges were due to a technical error.
The minister also noted that TNB could be fined a maximum of RM25,000 for each complaint lodged if the company is found guilty of violating Section 9C of the Electricity Supply Act 1990.
Nonetheless, TNB has reassured consumers that excess payment will be refunded after investigations
Malay Mail reported on 29 May that the company pledged to refund consumers if it is proven that extra charges were incurred on their electricity bills.
"A thorough effort is being implemented by TNB to address this issue in detail, including helping customers who received the high electricity bills to meet in person at the nearest Kedai Tenaga or contact TNB CareLine at 1300-88-5454," TNB said yesterday, according to Malay Mail.
The company also claimed that the affected customers have been apologised to.