KUALA LUMPUR: The Sustainability Achieved via Energy Efficiency (SAVE) 4.0 programme offers an e-rebate of up to RM400 for the purchase of energy-efficient electrical appliances.
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, when launching the programme today said RM50 million was allocated by the Electrical Supply Industry Trust Account (AAIBE) for the SAVE 4.0.
"Through this programme, our goal is to inspire more electricity users to adopt energy-efficient practices, leading to both energy savings and reduced electricity bills.
"The provision of subsidies or rebates in the future will be further streamlined with the forthcoming Padu system, enhancing the calculation of electricity subsidies," he told the press at the Madani government's one-year celebration.
Nik Nazmi explained that the e-rebate was applicable for the purchase of air-conditioners and refrigerators with energy-efficient labels of 4 or 5 stars by the Energy Commission.
He highlighted that SAVE 3.0 achieved notable results, recording 324 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy savings, equivalent to an annual cost reduction of RM129.4 million and a decrease of 281,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
For Malaysian citizens, the application is restricted to one electricity bill account for electrical appliances purchased this year, and it operates on a first-come, first-served basis beginning today.
Consumers can acquire these rebates through two methods: presenting their electricity bill in person at registered shops or supermarkets when purchasing electrical items or applying for an e-rebate via recognised e-commerce platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and PG Mall.
The SAVE programme, which was launched in 2011, and is managed by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia, is aligned with the Entry Point Project 9 strategy under Key Economic Outcomes, focused on improving energy efficiency in Malaysia.
It seeks to raise public awareness and promote the purchase of energy-efficient appliances, particularly for domestic consumers.
Reflecting on the ministry's first year, Nik Nazmi expressed satisfaction with its performance, noting improvements in efficiency across all agencies.
"Despite being a large ministry, we have achieved considerable milestones in this first year through the dedicated efforts of civil servants and the government.
"As we enter the second year, we look forward to accomplishing even more," he remarked.
He also shared that the ministry was prepared to work diligently to achieve its targets in the coming years.
"A provision of RM200 million through the 2024 Budget involves the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT) to state governments for the purpose of protecting the forests in the country.
"We are also increasing the number of community rangers to 2,000 individuals to safeguard forests and wildlife."