Taking back power supply rights
Published on: Monday, January 08, 2024
Hajiji said the State Government taking control of the regulatory power over electricity supply and renewable energy would facilitate a robust plan for a stable energy supply in Sabah.
THE Sabah Legislative Assembly special sitting on Jan 3 passed three bills related to the takeover of regulatory authority over power supply by the Sabah Government from the Federal Government.
The Sabah Energy Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Sabah Renewable Energy Bill 2024 and the Electricity Supply Bill 2024, tabled by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, were passed with a majority of votes.
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When tabling the Sabah Energy Commission Enactment 2023 (Amendment 2024), Hajiji said the amendment aims to include functions and powers regarding electricity supply and renewable energy to the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS).
He said it was to take over functions and powers from the Energy Commission (ST) and the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda).
Hajiji said the State Government taking control of the regulatory power over electricity supply and renewable energy would facilitate a robust plan for a stable energy supply in Sabah.
He said it would benefit the socio-economic development of the State through the provision of adequate, stable, affordable and sustainable energy supply as per the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040) developed by ECoS launched in September last year to support the Sabah Maju Jaya roadmap.
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“With this, it will empower the ECoS to regulate the electricity supply and renewable energy industry in Sabah, so that all activities related to electricity supply and renewable energy can be carried out continuously without any interruption,” he said.
Hajiji, when tabling the Electricity Supply Bill 2024, said the Sabah Government took over the regulatory power for gas supply on Jan 10 last year, with the regulatory power being given to ECoS, and it continued with the takeover of the regulatory authority over power supply from the Federal Government.
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He added that the move which is in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Electricity Supply Bill 2024, will allow the power to regulate electricity supply in Sabah to be taken over by ECoS accordingly.
He also said the Bill will empower the Sabah Government to regulate the electricity supply sector in the State so that all activities in the electricity supply sector can be controlled and carried out effectively and efficiently.
As for the Renewable Energy Bill 2024, Hajiji said it will empower the Sabah Government to regulate the renewable energy sector in the State, to ensure that activities involving the sector can be controlled and implemented.
“This can be the catalyst for the development of renewable energy, especially in Sabah,” he said.
Assembly Speaker Datuk Kadzim M Yahya adjourned the sitting sine die.
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