Tenaga Nasional Bhd's proposal for a review of its electricity tariffs is still under study by the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications.

A working paper on the proposal by the utility firm would be submitted to the cabinet by next month at the latest, its deputy minister Shaziman Abu Mansur said today.

"As a company, Tenaga Nasional has the right to request for the government to review the current tariff structure but the ministry has to see whether the proposed review of the tariff rate is justified," he said in a Bernama report.

"If there is any increase, the government would ensure that the low income group would not be burdened," he added.

Tenaga Nasional has asked the government to review the electricity tariff structure in view of rising costs of fuel to generate power brought on by higher oil prices in the world market.

The last time electricity tariffs were reviewed was in 1997.

15-year energy roadmap

Shaziman said in the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), the Energy Commission was preparing a draft Five-Year Action Plan to ensure fuel efficienct use of energy.

"This is to ensure that the implementation of the program and initiatives towards fuel efficiency are undertaken more coordinated and monitored," he said.

The Commission was also planning to prepare a 15-year Energy Efficiency Roadmap which provides a 15-year national planning, aspirations and goals on energy efficency.

He said the five-year action programme on energy efficiency for the 9MP would be based on the energy efficiency roadmap.