Malaysians looking to manage rising household expenses are being encouraged to rethink when they use electricity, under the Time of Use (ToU) tariff scheme.
The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) said the scheme allows consumers to pay lower electricity rates during off-peak hours compared with peak periods, creating an opportunity for households to reduce monthly bills through simple changes in daily routines.
Under the structure, peak hours run from 2 pm to 10 pm on weekdays when electricity demand is highest and tariffs are higher. Off-peak hours cover late night, early morning, weekends and public holidays when rates are lower.
For consumers, this means that shifting energy-heavy activities can directly translate into savings. Households are encouraged to run washing machines, water heaters, air conditioning and electric vehicle charging during off-peak hours rather than peak periods.
PETRA said more than 128,000 users had already switched to the ToU scheme as of February 2026, reflecting growing consumer awareness of energy management and cost control.
The ministry said the initiative is designed to help households better manage the cost of living pressures while encouraging more efficient electricity consumption patterns nationwide.
It added that wider adoption of ToU also helps reduce strain on the national grid during peak demand periods, supporting long-term energy sustainability.
Consumers can opt into the scheme to take advantage of lower tariff windows and potentially reduce their monthly electricity bills through timing-based usage rather than reduced consumption alone.
