TNB's New Electricity Bill Threshold: What It Means for Home EV Charging

Summary: From September to 31 December 2026, TNB raised its electricity bill protection threshold from 600kWh to 800kWh a month. If you charge your EV at home, whether this actually helps your bill depends on how much you charge, not just on owning an EV.

If your TNB bill has crept up since you started charging your EV at home, you're not imagining it. Home charging can add hundreds of kWh a month, sometimes more than your household used before you got the car.

On 17 September 2026, the government raised the electricity bill protection threshold from 600kWh to 800kWh a month. Nothing in the official announcement mentions EVs — but because home charging is billed as ordinary household electricity, it's worth working out where you actually stand.

Charging your EV at home can be cheaper now if your electricity bill is below 800 kWh.

The New 800kWh Threshold Explained

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, announced the change on 17 September 2026, citing haze and hotter weather that pushed household electricity use above the previous 600kWh limit. Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) CEO Datuk Shamsul Ahmad said the change protects over 8 million domestic users — almost 90% of TNB's domestic customers.

For consumption from September through 31 December 2026:

Households that consume electricity under 800kWh will be exempted from retail charge, AFA, and SST.

Note:

AFA (Automatic Fuel Adjustment) is a monthly charge or rebate reflecting the floating rate of fuel and generation costs.
SST is the 8% tax applied above the threshold.
This increased limit is temporary from September to 31 December 2026 only.

Savings from September's usage are expected as a credit in the October electricity bill, per TNB.

Does Home EV Charging Count Toward Your Bill?

Yes. There's no separate EV tariff for home charging in Malaysia — it's billed under your normal Domestic Tariff D rate, same as any other appliance.

Because EV charging adds directly to your total usage, EV owners are more likely than average households to sit near or above these thresholds.

Do you know how much EV ownership cost differs from petrol or hybrid cars? Explore our comprehensive guide on cost ownership comparison of the three car types.

How Much kWh Does EV Home Charging Add?

Households that uses EV home charger moderately are likely to consume less than 800kWh of electricity, while those that use it heavily may exceed the threshold.

Disclaimer: These figures are rough estimation for illustrative purposes only. Check your actual usage on the myTNB app to get the accurate amount of your electricity bill.

Not everyone benefits equally. Moderate home chargers previously tipping just over 600kWh are the clearest winners here. Heavy daily chargers with larger batteries may already be using more than 800kWh a month, seeing little or no benefit from this specific change.

What You Should Do Before 31 December 2026

Check your usage on the myTNB app to see where you stand.
Don't assume this is permanent. It covers from September to 31 December 2026 only.
If your usage is at the borderline of the 800kWh threshold, be mindful of your electricity usage in the final months so a reversion doesn't catch you off guard.

Be Mindful of Your Electricity Usage

Charging cost is only one part of owning an EV — car insurance, maintenance, and depreciation are separate. While this change is only a temporary measure, it never hurts to keep track of your electricity usage and take advantage of the temporary threshold increase to protect your pocket.

And when it's time to insure your EV, compare car insurance quotes with PolicyStreet.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does the 800kWh threshold apply only to EV owners?

No. It applies to all domestic TNB users. EV owners are simply more likely to be affected since home charging adds to total usage of electricity.

2. Is home EV charging billed at a special TNB rate?

No. It's billed under the same Domestic Tariff D rate as the rest of your household electricity. Therefore, your home EV charging behaviour is bound to affect your monthly electricity bill.

3. How long does this protection last?

The temporary increase of the electricity bill protection threshold will last from September through 31 December 2026.

4. What happens if my usage goes over 800kWh?

If your electricity usage exceeds 800kWh, the RM10 retail charge, the current month's AFA rate, and 8% SST will apply to your electricity bill, based on the standard tariff structure.

5. How do I check my current usage?

You can check your current electricity usage through the myTNB app or the TNB website.

6. Does this affect public EV charging stations?

No. The temporary 800kWh threshold only covers domestic bills. Public chargers are billed commercially by their operators.

7. Do non-EV households benefit too from this change?

Yes. It applies to all domestic TNB users within the new 800kWh limit, not just EV owners.