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Kota Kinabalu: The National Consumer Foundation (NCF) urged Sabah to adopt Sarawak’s electricity generation model as a benchmark to ensure affordable tariffs for consumers.

NCF’s Sabah Chairman David Chan highlighted Sarawak’s success in transitioning to renewable energy sources, particularly hydro and solar power.

However, David emphasised that the ultimate goal should be to ensure that renewable energy tariffs are affordable for consumers, regardless of the type of generation implemented.

He expressed concern that high renewable energy tariffs could be detrimental to consumers, rendering the transition to sustainable energy sources ineffective.

He also pointed out that in Peninsular Malaysia, solar tariffs were determined through competitive open bidding range from 18 to 25 cents per kw/h.

David believes that if Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) can achieve lower tariffs through sustainable energy sources, it would be beneficial for both the company and consumers, leading to lower energy costs in the future.

David stressed the importance of protecting consumer interests and ensuring that they are not exploited by individuals with vested interests.

He emphasised the need for energy tariffs to be affordable and accessible to all segments of society.

This sentiment underscores the NCF’s commitment to advocating for consumer rights and promoting fair and equitable energy policies.

Sarawak’s energy transition has been marked by a significant shift towards renewable energy sources, particularly hydro and solar power.

This has resulted in a more sustainable energy mix and a greater reliance on clean energy sources.

Sarawak’s experience in this area could serve as a valuable model for Sabah, which is also seeking to transition to a more sustainable energy future.

Sabah has launched its own energy roadmap and master plan, aiming to secure power supply through 2040 and shift towards renewable energy sources such as solar, hydropower, and geothermal.

This plan aims to achieve a more balanced generation fuel mix, with 50 per cent of capacity from renewable energy by 2035.

This ambitious goal aligns with Malaysia’s national energy transition roadmap, which aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The NCF’s call for Sabah to adopt Sarawak’s model comes as Sabah is already set to source electricity from Sarawak starting in late 2023.

This cross-border electricity exchange is part of Sabah’s grid expansion initiative and Sarawak’s Northern Agenda, which aims to connect Miri to northern towns in Sarawak.

The agreement between SESB and Syarikat SESCO Bhd, a subsidiary of Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), signifies a crucial step towards realising the vision of a common goal for the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) to link infrastructure among Southeast Asian countries through the Asean Power Grid[1].

The NCF’s call for Sabah to learn from Sarawak’s electricity generation model highlights the importance of balancing the transition to renewable energy with the need to ensure affordability for consumers.

Sarawak’s success in this area provides a valuable case study for Sabah as it embarks on its own energy transition journey.

The cross-border electricity exchange between Sabah and Sarawak further strengthens the collaboration between the two states, paving the way for a more sustainable and interconnected energy future in the region.