BY NABILA AHMAD

KULAI: Residents staying in the Taman Putri and Kelapa Sawit areas here are dissatisfied with their soaring electricity bills.

Businessman Lau Tek Hai, 41, said he was shocked that his two-month reading from June 21 to Aug 23 was RM482.92.

“I live in a single-storey house with my wife and five-year-old child and the only electrical components we have are a washing machine, fridge, television, computer and an air conditioner,” he said.

He added that previously, his electricity bill was only RM73.46 for one month.

“Although RM482.92 is for two months’ usage, if I halve it, the amount is still too high,” he said during a press conference organised by Bukit Batu assemblyman Jimmy Phua Wee Tse in Taman Tropika here.

Lau added that he had lodged a complaint with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) on Aug 30 and was told that the electricity reading was correct.

Phua said he had received three complaints regarding high electricity bills in the Kulai area and hoped TNB would look into the matter.

When contacted, TNB Johor distribution division customer service and marketing senior manager Mohd Amin Ahmad said that it was reasonable for the bill to reach RM200 a month if the household uses an air conditioner.

“Consumers must also check their refrigerator as sometimes a broken starter could also cause high electricity bills.”

He urged consumers to go to https://www.tnb.com.my/ for tips on saving electricity.