Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin today said that the electricity tariff may see an increase in the next six months.

“This is if the price of crude oil and other fuels like natural gas and coal saw a sudden rise in the world market,” said the minister in a written reply to Batu Gajah parliamentarian Fong Po Kuan.

Fong had asked the minister if there will be any increases or review in electricity tariffs in the next six months.

NONEHowever, Chin (left) gave his assurance that the government will then conduct a detailed study before enforcing any tariff hike.

“The government will always ensure that any electricity tariff hike to be imposed shall be fair and comes with a safety net to protect consumers, especially low-income earners,” said the minister in his reply.

His reply came in the footsteps of government postponement of a scheduled electricity tariff review in 2010, which was put off because the government claimed that the economic conditions at the time were not conducive, and looking not to increase the financial burden of the public.

To control the tariff at the time, the government had instituted a subsidy programme purportedly to ensure that natural gas supplies to power producers are at a favourable level. However, the subsidies to power producers have been criticised as pandering to crony companies while the public had to suffer subsidy cuts.