Penang exco says the new rates are needed to sustain the current level of water supply services and gradually reduce domestic water consumption.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang ’s new water tariff rates will take effect on July 1 after a year-long delay in implementation, says state infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari .
Zairil said the new rates would only cause a maximum water bill increase of RM2.55 per month for 82% of domestic water consumers, who use 35 cubic metres or less monthly. For those who use exactly 35 cubic metres per month, he said this would amount to RM32.50, up from RM29.95 currently. For non-domestic rates, the maximum water bill increase will be RM77.70 per month if 500 cubic metres or less is used.
Zairil said the new rates were based on rational business plans submitted by the Penang Water Supply Corporation to the National Water Services Commission . In a statement, he said SPAN requires PBAPP to rationalise its funding to ensure continuous, reliable water supply for the 1.8 million people who live and work in Penang.
“PBAPP must implement new rates to sustain the present level of water supply services in Penang while mitigating rising costs, a rising number of water consumers, climate change, global economic uncertainty, and ageing infrastructure,” he said, adding that the new rates would support Penang’s drive to reduce high domestic water consumption. In 2025, water consumption by households accounted for about 55.7% of the total average consumption of 865 million litres per day in Penang.
Zairil said this meant that domestic consumers used more water than all of Penang’s factories, hotels, shopping malls, business premises, and government offices combined. He added that Penang’s domestic consumption per capita was 267 litres per capita per day in 2025, the highest in the country, while the national average stood at 225 LCD in 2024.
“Since Penang is a water-stressed state, we have to gradually reduce domestic water consumption to a more reasonable level to sustain good water supply services for all. The target for 2026 is 250 LCD. ” He also said that PBAPP must raise the funds to complete water projects to ensure water supply sufficiency until 2030. These projects include the construction of the Mengkuang Park water treatment plant, ancillary pipeline works, and land acquisitions to expand treatment plants around the state.
The new rates are projected to generate about RM20 million in additional revenue for PBAPP and PBA Holdings Bhd over the next six months.
“Any additional profits will be largely reinvested as capital expenditure for water projects in Penang, for the state’s benefit,” said Zairil.
Please follow us on Google to support us Penang Water Tariff Zairil Khir Johari
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Penang to Review Fire Safety Measures for Old and Heritage BuildingsFollowing the fire at the Odeon building on Jalan Penang, Penang will review possible measures to strengthen compliance with fire safety requirements for old and heritage buildings.
Read more »
Penang Unlikely to Hold State Election with General Election, Says CMChief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says Penang will not likely align its next state election with the general election due to disrupted electoral cycles and the fairness of cutting short existing mandates. He notes the difficulty of synchronizing elections after various political developments altered timelines across the country. He states that concurrent polls would require broad agreement among states and may be unfair where administrations have considerable time left in their terms, referencing Penang's two and a half years remaining. He also mentions Penang DAP will assist in the upcoming Johor polls by deploying election workers. The differing electoral cycles stem from Penang's August 2023 election and Johor's March 2022 election.
Read more »
Penang Unlikely to Hold State Election Simultaneously with General ElectionChief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says it is unfair to dissolve Penang's assembly early just to synchronize elections, as Penang still has about two and a half years left. Meanwhile, DAP Penang will help campaign in the upcoming Johor state election.
Read more »
Penang unlikely to hold state polls alongside GE, says CM as election timelines divergeKUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Penang is unlikely to hold its state election simultaneously with the next general election as the gap between the two electoral cycles has become too...
Read more »