KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A near-term surge in electricity demand and rising energy costs driven by hotter weather and pressure on energy supplies are likely to hit consumers hard and tax the resilience of energy systems, the Energy Commission said on Wednesday.
Electricity usage is expected to climb in the coming months as temperatures rise, with increased reliance on cooling systems such as air conditioning placing added strain on consumers, the commission's chief executive Siti Safinah Salleh said following its 2026 Annual Regulatory Review.
Siti Safinah noted that although approximately 80 percent of the country's gas supply for electricity generation is produced domestically, it remains indirectly exposed to global price movements.
"However, we are still affected because it is linked to the market reference price (MRP). The public needs to be prepared for cost increases, even if the rise may not be too high or as severe as in some other countries, there will still be an increase in costs," she said.
She also cautioned that escalating fuel costs are likely to filter into the national energy system through the Automatic Fuel Adjustment mechanism. Under the current framework, fuel cost adjustments are implemented monthly if changes remain within a 10 percent threshold, while larger increases require government approval.
Siti Safinah urged consumers and businesses alike to prioritize energy efficiency as a first line of defense against rising bills. ■
