Saturday, August 31, 2013

Higher electricity bills likely

BY CECILIA KOK 

   
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KUALA LUMPUR: Electricity bills are likely to go up as the Government is expected to reduce subsidies for natural gas in its bid to improve Malaysia’s fiscal position.
“The subsidy bill for the power sector has been creeping up … if the Government doesn’t do anything, the subsidy bill would go higher and higher,” MyPower Corpchief executive officer Datuk Abdul Razak Majid said at a media briefing yesterday.
The last electricity tariff hike took effect in June 2011 when the subsidised gas price was raised to RM13.70 per million metric British thermal unit (mmbtu) from RM10.70 per mmbtu previously.
MyPower, a special-purpose agency set up to drive reforms in the Malaysian electricity supply industry, said subsidies for the country’s power sector alone cost the Government around RM8bil to RM12bil per year, depending on the prevailing input fuel prices.
Natural gas, which currently accounts for about 50% of the power-generation fuel mix in Peninsular Malaysia, is sold to the local power sector at a subsidised rate of RM13.70 per mmbtu, although the market price of fuel has already tripled.
“The Government’s plan is to move towards market-based prices. But it is also conscious of how this move is going to impact customers, so the key decision is whether to slow down the process or move at a faster pace,” Abdul Razak said.
He noted that higher gas prices had made subsidies unsustainable and that the prospects of having to import liquefied natural gas at market rates to alleviate the country’s energy supply challenges had only added to the woes.
According to MyPower, if fuel subsidies were to be gradually removed, then the true cost of power would exceed 40 sen per kilowatt-hour (kwh), compared with the current rate of 33.54 sen/kwh.
While gas is supplied at subsidised prices, coal, which accounts for about 40% of the power-generation fuel mix in Peninsular Malaysia, is procured at market rates. Any change in the two fuels will have a direct impact on the cost of electricity.
On that note, Abdul Razak said the principles of the fuel-cost pass through mechanism had already been worked out. Under this mechanism, fuel cost would be reviewed every six months and any changes (upward or downward) in the cost due to fluctuations in fuel prices (gas, coal and oil) would be passed through in the end-user tariff.
The fuel-cost pass through mechanism is a significant component under the proposed Incentive-Based Regulation tariff framework.
According to Abdul Razak, the framework must be implemented first before the fuel-cost pass through mechanism can take effect.
He revealed that there were plans by the Energy Commission and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) to do a pilot run for the Incentive-Based Regulation tariff framework from next month to identify issues or discrepancies that need to be ironed out.
“Hopefully, after one year of the pilot run, they can launch the programme proper,” Abdul Razak said.
Under the framework, TNB’s transmission and distribution network’s yearly performance will be benchmarked against a set of performance targets. The electricity tariffs, and hence, TNB’s returns, will then be adjusted based on achieving those performance targets.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

When to Replace Toyota Prius's Remote Control (Alarm) Battery Transmitter?


Frequent Switching On/Off of car remote control by driver will drain the remote control battery in fast state especially for those who always on the move.

Environment friendly car such Toyota Prius is using 3V Litium Metal battery for the remote control battery transmitter.

Where can we buy this Litium Metal battery for Prius remote control? We can get the spare part from any Toyota Service Center Malaysia at the cost of RM43.70/unit and it is expected to last about 30 Months (if shows any sign of intermittent problem).

For those who are practicing preventive maintenance, you are encourage to replace the Prius Remote Control Battery within 24 month to avoid any unpleasant experience happen during your trip.



Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Sustainable Energy Development Authority seeks extra 1% levy

   
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PUTRAJAYA: The Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) is seeking an additional 1% levy to the renewable energy (RE) fund, on top of the current 1% imposed in electricity bills, according to CEO Datin Badriyah Abdul Malek.
“We’re looking at a maximun 1% levy that could increase the RE fund size to spur more development in the RE sector. The RE fund is the lifeline of Feed-in-Tariff (FiT),” she said at Seda’s Raya open house in Putrajaya yesterday.
Under the Renewable Energy Act 2011, individuals or non-individuals can sell electricity generated from RE resources to power utility firms at a fixed premium price for a specified time. The four RE resources that are eligible for FiT are biogas, biomass, small hydropower and solar photovoltaic (PV).
The current 1% levy to cover costs associated with the FiT scheme translates to about RM300mil a year. The 1% levy, which took effect in December 2011, is imposed on all users, except for domestic customers who consume less than 300 kilowatt-hours (kwh) or equivalent to RM77 a month.
When the additional 1% levy is imposed, the same group of consumers will have to pay 2% levy for FiT.
Badriyah disclosed Seda had spoken to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry on the potential review and that it was work in progress.
She said although Seda had received an in-principle approval for the 2% levy, the extra 1% was in the Government’s hands.
According to Badriyah, the initial RM300mil fund size has been committed to feed in approval holders (FiAHs) for the next 21 years.
“The money has been locked in. This is to ensure that there is money to pay the FiAHs,” she said, adding that Seda was also looking at various ways to top up the RE fund.
The Act also requires the management and utilisation of the RE fund to be reported and tabled in Parliament annually for the public to scrutinise the information.
Badriyah said the past 20 months had been a “volatile” period for Seda, which had managed a substantial growth in RE.
So far the agency has disbursed some RM44mil to the FiAHs. As of July 31, Seda had approved RE capacity of 509.75 MW, of which 112.44 MW are connected to the grid.
Meanwhile, Seda will be releasing 1,500kW of solar PV quota to individuals in three batches. The first 500kW quota for individuals under the Solar Home Rooftop Programme will be released today, followed by another 500kW on Sept 4 and Sept 11 at noon.
“There will be no more releases of any solar PV quota for individuals for 2013 after Sept 11 because it is not realistic for these individual FiAHs to be able to achieve commercial operation of their PV system by the year-end,” Badriyah said.
She said that any renewable energy projects that were supposed to achieve commercial operation by this year but failed to do so would incur further degression to their FiT rate as stipulated in their FiA certificate.
It is thus important for all FiAHs to note that for solar PV for individuals the degression rate is 8% while for non-individuals it is 20%.
Effective today, solar PV quota for the individual will be applicable only for residential premises under individual names only to prevent any potential abuse of solar PV quota for individuals.
Badriyah said Seda would be strict in approving applications and reminded interested FiA applicants to comply with all the necessary requirements.
Meanwhile, Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia chairman S. Supramaniam opined that Seda should explain to the public what it had done with the 1% levy before seeking an extra 1%.
“We don’t even know what they (Seda) have done with the 1%. Show us how well you have done with the 1%,” he told StarBiz.
Furthermore, he said there was limited consultation with the public on the levy.
He also said information on the initial 1% levy was not properly disseminated to the public.
Supramaniam noted that the clean energy domain should rest with the Government and that it should pay for it.

Monday, August 19, 2013

How is My Toyota Prius Fuel Performance after two and half year?



After two and half year driving Toyota Prius in town city, how is the car's fuel performance ? 
Recently, we found the best fuel performance for town driving is using Caltex petrol. 
36.37 L of Ron 95 is able to achieve total mileage of 726.5KM.
This can translate to 1 L of petrol approximately 20KM or every 100KM for 5 L petrol. 

For today RON95 price fixed at RM1.90, Toyota Prius is spent about RM0.09 for 1KM

My Previous Popular Post

Advantages of Toyota Prius in Malaysia Part-1

How to Jump Start Toyota Prius?

My Prius Performance after 21,000kM mileage


Sunday, August 18, 2013

新興電器首推全新家居太陽能發電新系統 (Sen Heng launches Residential Solar Installation System)

Sen Heng electrical is participating residential solar installation system under Feed in Tariff Malaysia
Services are offered customers in Selangor area. Green Energy and Green money.
新興電器首推全新家居太陽能發電新系統,取代傳統石油和煤炭發電站的綠色能源,讓簽購者成為綠色能源供應者之餘,同時也能參與電力回購計劃,在未來21年享有額外收入。

see video: from Siew Chiew
source:http://video.sinchew.com.my/node/1366

Senheng will offer 3 residential solar PV system packages – 4kWp will cost around RM40,800, 8kWp will cost around RM81,600 and 12kWp will cost around RM122,400 to set-up. All packages come with first 3 years maintenance service for free.
It is generally known that the set-up costs of a residential solar PV system is high, but now Senheng is pioneering a market breakthrough by providing 85% financing solution with special low interest rate for customers. To make the plan more attractive, customers are entitled to a 15% cash rebate after full installation.
Senheng will be the first and only retailer to introduce the residential solar PV system to the mass market which will only be initially available at Klang Valley Senheng outlets and senQ Digital Stations on the 5th of August 2013 onwards. Availability to other states will expand over time.
Details:
kindly refer to original post in SenHeng.


Thursday, August 15, 2013

Honda Malaysia announces up to 52% price reduction for hybrid battery replacement, extends battery warranty up to eight years with unlimited mileage

Honda Malaysia has announced a price reduction of up to 52% for the replacement of hybrid batteries and an extended warranty period of up to eight years with unlimited mileage for all Honda hybrids.
The eight-year warranty also applies to hybrids purchased between January 2011 and May 2013, and is the longest hybrid battery warranty currently offered in Malaysia. Details of the price reductions for hybrid battery replacements are as follows:
  • Insight (nickel-metal hydride): From RM7,580 to RM3,980 (47% reduction)
  • Jazz Hybrid (nickel-metal hydride): From RM6,934 to RM3,980 (43% reduction)
  • CR-Z pre-facelift (nickel-metal hydride): From RM7,580 to RM3,980 (47% reduction)
  • CR-Z facelift (lithium-ion): RM5,480
  • Civic Hybrid (lithium-ion): From RM11,480 to RM5,480 (52% reduction) - previous-gen Civic Hybrid (nickel-metal hydride) not included in the battery price reduction and extended warranty
It follows that across the board, nickel-metal hydride batteries cost RM3,980 to replace; lithium-ion batteries RM5,480.
“Honda Malaysia is able to reduce the price of the batteries and transfer the benefit to our customers due to three main reasons. Firstly, we reviewed the total cost of logistic as well as the administrative expenses and have reduced it by enhancing the efficiency of our business,” explained MD and CEO Yoichiro Ueno.
“Secondly, the costs of hybrid batteries are gradually decreasing due to the increase of global hybrid sales and production of hybrid vehicles including its batteries.
“Furthermore, the recent depreciation of Yen against the Ringgit has reduced the import cost of hybrid batteries that are fully imported from Japan,” he continued, adding that the two main concerns of Malaysian customers in accepting the hybrid vehicle are the lifespan of the battery and the cost to replace it.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Seda pays out RM38mil to feed-in approval holders

PETALING JAYA: Some RM38mil has been disbursed to feed-in approval holders (FiAH) by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (Seda).
“As at June 30, Seda had disbursed approximately RM38mil for the recovery of monies for the payout to the FiAH and administrative fees,” a spokesperson told StarBiz.
The agency said the amount had been distributed to four distribution licensees, namely, Tenaga Nasional BhdSabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, NUR Distribution and Malakoff Utilities.
Under the Renewable Energy Act 2011, individuals or non-individuals can sell electricity generated from renewable energy (RE) resources back to power utility firms at a fixed premium price for a specific time.
The four RE resources that are eligible for feed-in-tariff are biogas, biomass, small hydropower and solar photovoltaic (PV).
The payment is financed by an RE Fund contributed by electricity consumers who consume more than 300kWh of electricity per month. The current 1% extra charge translates to about RM300mil per annum.
Asked on the quota to be released in the next two years, Seda said: “The amount of quota to be released depends on the amount of RE Fund which comes from the 1% extra charge currently imposed on the electricity tariff. The release of new quotas would depend on the next extra 1% supposed to be imposed in the next electricity tariff review, which is yet to be announced by the Government.”
StarBiz had reported that Seda would not hesitate to revoke the licences given to FiAH who did not comply with the required project milestones.
Sources said it was a tedious process to revoke FiAH and the revocation was legal, and thus, the authority would need some time to check if all milestones had been met.
“Yes, a few FiAHs have been revoked (solar PV for non-individuals, biogas and biomass). The basis for revocation is always because FiAHs are unable to meet their milestones on project progress despite repeated reminders,” Seda said, without naming the companies whose FiAH had been revoked.
As of June 30, Seda had approved a total of 1,614 applications, with a total capacity of 480.45MW.
Out of that, a total of 189.78MW was from solar PV, and from this number, the total approved for the individual category was 16.64MW.

source

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Go for Off Grid home Solar- Fight Climate change today


Malaysian Citizens lead fight to curb air pollution.
Go off Grid Solar power at your home roof top to fight climate change today.

Retirement Living:
How to achieve your Carbon Neutral retirement dreams? Dreams  are just a plan away.

Contributor: Foo


Saturday, August 3, 2013

Chicken Hood with solar energy


Putting up solar power on top of chicken hood for lighting. Keep our environment as good as we can.