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If you are buying a house for the very first time, you’ll notice that there is much to do before you move in or let a tenant enter. One necessary task on your list is to set up essential utilities such as the electricity and water supply. Here’s what you need to know:


How to Get Electricity for Your Home

Brand New Homes

If your home is newly developed, without electricity supply, you’ll have to take a couple of extra steps before getting an account up and running.

To open an account, you’ll need to appoint an electrical contractor to help inspect the internal wiring of the property for safety purposes.

Once the contractor has completed his inspection, he will then submit an electricity application form to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) where a portion is to be completed and signed by the applicant. You’ll also need to furnish required documents such as identification (NRIC or Passport) and proof of premise occupation.

Once the documents are submitted, all that’s left is to make payments – you’ll need to cover the connection charges plus a stamp duty of RM10 as well as a deposit before TNB installs a meter and connects your electricity supply.

On the topic of deposit payments, note that these are based on the premise type and phase of supply requested (e.g. one, two or three-phase). With a higher phase, better electrical stability is expected but a larger deposit will be charged. The range of deposits to be paid start from RM170 for flats or kampong houses and the like, up to RM1, 600 for multi-storey bungalows.

On a side note, if you are looking for new properties to purchase, check out these featured upcoming developments on PropSocial – The Andes, Bukit Jalil; Selayang 18, Bandar Baru Selayang and; Semanja, Kajang.


Homes with Existing Electricity Supply

The same process applies here with the exception of hiring a contractor, although if you are unsure about the condition of the wiring, TNB will require that you find a registered electrician to inspect the wiring for your safety.

In addition, you will need to pay a reconnection fee which ranges from RM3 to RM80 depending on voltage.

Note that even if the house is already equipped with electricity, you can still upgrade the phase of supply (e.g. to support greater usage for more air conditioners, etc.) – but of course this would come at a cost that varies with premise type.


New Account for Tenants

TNB makes it possible for the owner to register a bill under the tenant’s name; this is done to help landlords pass the responsibility of bills due to the tenant. The landlord will not be held liable for the bill in case their tenants don’t pay up.

You can apply for a change of tenancy online or in person at the Kedai Tenaga closest to the property. Just be sure to have your Sale and Purchase Agreement or Tenancy Agreement (if you are the tenant), along with a letter of consent or a copy of the Termination of Account Form from the existing accountholder.

In these cases, the typical utility deposit may not be collected by the landlord; instead, TNB will require a two-month deposit from the accountholder. 

Thinking of renting out your home? Then do check out our articles on the basics of tenancy agreements , how to pick the right tenants and if this is your first time being a landlord, find out which qualities will make you a reputable one


Electricity for Residents in East Malaysia

Electricity is supplied to the Peninsula by TNB, whereas states in East Malaysia have different energy suppliers. In Sabah, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd provides its electricity needs, whereas Sarawak Energy generates supply to Sarawak.



Registering For Water Supply

Water supply application differs in different states because each is served by an individual water company. In Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, SYABAS provides the water supply.

To apply for an account, just fill in your details online via the Online Consumer Service Portal and upload (or post) the required documents (i.e. identification, proof of ownership or tenancy, copy of land title and Water Supply Agreement Form).

If water meter installation is required, you will need to make payment, where the amount is based on a bill issued by SYABAS.

It’s possible to transfer or change ownership and get a new account without changing the water meter if one already exists. This way you can avoid meter installation charges, however, a stamp duty and deposit would still apply to the new account.



Change of Ownership for Sewerage Services

Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) is in charge of maintaining the public sewerage system for all states and areas except Johor Bahru, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak.

If your property is within the service zones, all you need to do to transfer ownership and change the account name, is to submit copies of the first, second and last two pages from your Sale and Purchase Agreement to IWK. The process can be completed online via email or through post.


Now you know how to easily set up the utilities necessary to enjoy your home, but here’s a quick tip: it’s better to go through online services when you have more time to spare as there could be a lag in response time. However, if you are in a crunch or require clarification on a specific issue, it might be better to go in person to the utility office and settle your application directly. 


If you have questions and have no time bringing yourself to utility offices, just post your enquiry at PropSocial's Discussion board and get answers from the friendly community!


(Written by: Desiree Nair, 23rd January 2017)

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thanks for sharing!

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I personally think it is better to have the utility bills under the name of the tenant instead...

In cases of high usage, the utility deposit might not be able to cover the usage by the tenant... the owner will also need to foot the bill if the tenant decides to MIA. :^C

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@domng Yes, normally tenant need to change utilities bills under their name instead of owner.

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@admin_ps good sharing