National utility giant Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has stood by its claim that 60 percent of households in the peninsula were not be affected by the electricity tariff hike. The credibility of the figure had been called into question by two street polls.

The recent polls conducted by Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau and online daily malaysiakini suggest it is extremely difficult to find anyone who would be unaffected in both urban and rural areas. However, TNB has dismissed the findings as "unscientific".

Nanyang's poll, covering places like the urban poor settlements, fishing villages or new villages in the peninsula, revealed that the sharp 12 percent hike would affect all interviewed.

Malaysiakini's poll was carried out in squatter villages and urban poor settlements in Kuala Lumpur.

"These street polls are misleading. Not only are they not scientific, they have only captured a small number of users. Our statistics are based on the actual bills," countered TNB external communications head Sidek Kamiso in a recent email response.

"Our statistics also reflect the total consumption of Malaysians, not just in urban areas. Even in urban areas, there is a significant number of people who pay less than RM43.60 (for electricity consumption) per month."

Conflicting figures

On the actual monthly bills, Sidek stated that "TNB currently has about 6.2 million customers; about 3,036,016 households use less than 200kWh (unit) of electricity per month, which is equivalent to RM43.60".

However, based on these figures, those not affected will only make up 49 percent.

Contacted for clarification today, Sidek said TNB's total domestic customers should stand at 5,144,760 households, while those unaffected by the tariff hike announced last month should be 3,035,408 households.

He cited the example of a 'typical household' which uses four lights (40W), two fans (50W), a one-door fridge (80W), one television set (100W), one hi-fi (25W), rice cooker (800W) and an iron (1,000W), saying that consumption would be less than 147kWh per month or RM32.

However, according to the Energy Commission website, the monthly average energy consumption for a low-cost house is estimated at RM67, while medium-cost homes can expect a bill of RM123 and bungalows, RM342 per month.

The higher tariff, which has come three months after sharp fuel price hikes, had prompted a peaceful demonstration on May 28. It was dispersed with violence by the police.