Malaysia sees no need for separate electricity bill ombudsman

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, has stated that there is currently no need to create a separate independent body to oversee electricity bills, often referred to as an ombudsman. He believes the existing complaint management systems are adequate for addressing issues related to electricity supply.

Fadillah explained that mechanisms such as the Public Complaints Management System (SISPAA) and the Energy Commission's (ST) e-aduan system, along with utility company complaint channels, are sufficient. He noted that the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation and the ST have successfully resolved 163 electricity supply-related complaints through SISPAA and e-aduan as of June 10, 2026.

Under Section 30A of the Electricity Supply Act 1990, the ST is empowered to establish a special committee to resolve disputes that cannot be settled amicably between parties. This committee can be formed if the ST deems a resolution is unlikely within a reasonable timeframe or if the matter is not trivial. Therefore, the ministry considers the ST's existing regulatory role comprehensive enough to handle all electricity supply issues.

"There is no need at the moment for the establishment of an Independent Electricity Bill Monitoring Body (Ombudsman) as an entity separate from ST and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB)," Fadillah stated in a written parliamentary reply. This response was to a question from Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat), who had inquired about the government's willingness to consider establishing such an independent body with binding powers to review billing complaints, order independent meter audits, and resolve billing disputes cost-free for consumers.

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There is no need at the moment for the establishment of an Independent Electricity Bill Monitoring Body (Ombudsman) as an entity separate from ST and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).