# TNB, SESB and Sarawak Energy Electricity Accounts: Why Three Companies, Three Different Processes

> Opening electricity supply at a new home isn't simply 'register with TNB' — in Sabah it's SESB, in Sarawak it's Sarawak Energy, and all three have their own forms, deposits and rates. This article sets out how to apply for New Premises versus Change of Tenancy, the actual deposit formula, and why the meter reading on key handover day matters.

- Category: property
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-07-24
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/property/electricity-tnb-account

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You've got the keys to your new home, but the light switch does nothing.
The meter outside is still spinning under the previous owner's name — and
until that account changes names, every kilowatt you use is technically
still hanging off someone else's liability. Many people assume "call TNB"
is enough to sort this out. In Peninsular Malaysia, yes. In Sabah and
Sarawak, that's entirely the wrong phone number.

## Three companies, not one national system

Electricity supply in Malaysia is not run by a single body. **Tenaga
Nasional Berhad (TNB)** serves Peninsular Malaysia through the myTNB
portal and the **Kedai Tenaga** outlet network. Sabah, meanwhile, belongs
to **Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB)**, and Sarawak to **Sarawak Energy
Berhad**. All three operate separately, with their own application forms,
deposit rates and even their own terminology — so a Google search for
"how to apply for electricity" that only turns up TNB guides isn't much
help if the house is in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching.

## New premises versus transferring an existing account

Before filling in any form, first work out the application category —
because it determines whether an electrical contractor needs to be
appointed:

| Situation | Process | Contractor required? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| New premises / never had a meter before | New supply application | Yes — a registered electrical contractor (or a consulting engineer for large loads) |
| Existing premises, TNB cabling & meter still working, no wiring modifications | **Change of Tenancy** (account name transfer) | No — apply directly |
| Rented home / home bought from the previous owner | Change of Tenancy | No, if the existing installation is in good condition |

According to TNB's official site, "Tenancy Change is the opening of a
new account by a customer moving into an existing premises with
completed electrical installation." This is the most common route for
tenants or homebuyers — no wiring work, so no contractor, just a form, a
copy of the identity card (stamped "For TNB Purpose Only"), and a
certified tenancy agreement/title deed.

For SESB, the same kind of documents are required — a copy of the
MyKad, Sale and Purchase Agreement/Land Title/Tenancy Agreement or
Letter of Offer — and the applicant must complete the Domestic or
Non-Domestic Application Form before a registered contractor submits it
to the SESB office along with Form G and Form H.

## Deposit: same formula, different amounts by company and premises

All three companies charge a **security deposit** — not an electricity
payment, but collateral against outstanding liability when the account
is eventually closed.

**TNB** calculates the deposit based on an estimated **two months'
consumption**, taken from the **average of the six most recent months'**
consumption at that premises. A cash deposit earns interest of **2.5%
per year**, credited to the account once a year; if the deposit amount
exceeds RM2,000, the customer may choose a bank guarantee instead of
cash. For a Change of Tenancy application, the additional charges levied
are a **RM10 stamp duty** and a **RM3.00 processing fee** (low voltage)
or **RM80.00** (medium/high voltage).

**SESB** uses a similar principle but a different calculation method
depending on the type of application: for a new account, the deposit is
calculated based on the **Maximum Demand (kW)** declared by the
contractor on Form PD-9; for an existing account under review, the
formula is the same as TNB's — two months of the average of six months'
actual consumption. SESB's stamp duty is **RM12** (including a RM2
administrative fee).

**Sarawak Energy** publishes a fixed deposit rate schedule by premises
category, rather than a consumption formula. Some examples from the
official schedule:

| Premises type | Owner (single-phase / three-phase) | Tenant (single-phase / three-phase) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Terrace house | RM350 / RM700 | RM700 / RM1,400 |
| Semi-detached house | RM550 / RM1,100 | RM1,100 / RM2,200 |
| Village house / longhouse | RM100 / RM200 | RM200 / RM400 |
| Rural low-cost house | RM180 (single-phase only) | RM360 (single-phase only) |

A consistent pattern: the tenant rate is almost always **double** the
owner rate for the same category. If the estimated deposit exceeds
RM5,000, Sarawak Energy allows a bank guarantee in place of a cash
deposit.

None of the three companies publishes a single RM figure for the whole
country — the actual amount always depends on location, premises
category and (for TNB/SESB) actual consumption history.

## Why the meter reading on key handover day matters

The meter reading on the day the keys are handed over isn't just a
personal record — it's the official dividing line between the previous
owner's/tenant's liability and yours. TNB confirms this process during
account closure: an officer takes a **final reading** when the old
account is terminated, and the balance of the old deposit is refunded
according to the formula **Refund = Deposit – Final Charges (if any)**,
processed within one month via bank transfer, cheque, or transfer to
another active account.

For existing account holders, TNB also offers **Self Meter Reading
(SMR)** — the customer submits their own reading via the myTNB app or
portal when the submission window opens (notified via SMS/push
notification). A reading must be submitted every month **except April,
August and December**, when TNB itself takes the reading for calibration
purposes. If a reading is not submitted within the set window, the bill
defaults to an estimate; and if a customer fails to submit a reading for
**two consecutive months**, TNB automatically terminates that account's
SMR eligibility.

## Common mistakes

- **Not photographing the meter reading on key handover day.** Without
  this record, it's hard to prove consumption before and after you
  occupied the premises if a billing dispute arises.
- **Continuing to use the previous owner's/tenant's name without doing a
  Change of Tenancy.** An account that isn't renamed means the billing
  liability is still officially hanging on the previous name — not
  yours.
- **Assuming deposit rates are the same nationwide.** TNB's and SESB's
  formulas are based on actual consumption; Sarawak Energy instead uses
  a fixed rate schedule by premises category — the three cannot be
  equated.
- **Submitting a plain photocopy instead of a copy stamped "For TNB
  Purpose Only" or equivalent.** All three companies specify a
  particular way of preparing the identity card copy.
- **Missing the Self Meter Reading submission window.** The bill falls
  to an estimate, and if it recurs for two consecutive months, SMR
  eligibility is withdrawn entirely.

## What's next

Electricity is only one of several things that need to be sorted out
when moving into a new home in Malaysia — see [first steps moving to
Malaysia](/en/settling-in/moving-to-malaysia-first-steps) for the other
related requirements. For those who also need to set up a mobile line at
the new premises, see the [prepaid and postpaid SIM
guide](/en/money-daily-life/mobile-sim-plans).

## Sources

- Security Deposit — https://www.mytnb.com.my/residential/get-electricity/security-deposit (Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB))
- Start & Stop Electricity — https://www.mytnb.com.my/residential/get-electricity/start-stop-electricity (Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB))
- Change of Tenancy — https://www.mytnb.com.my/residential/get-electricity/change-of-tenancy (Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB))
- Self Meter Reading — https://www.mytnb.com.my/residential/get-electricity/self-meter-reading (Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB))
- Deposit — https://www.sesb.com.my/Services/Deposit (Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB))
- New Application — https://www.sesb.com.my/Services-for-Customers/New-Application.aspx (Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB))
- Collateral Deposit — https://www.sarawakenergy.com/customers/customer-service/collateral-deposit (Sarawak Energy Berhad)

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Source of truth: https://github.com/negaraku-md/NegaraKu.md
License: CC BY-SA 4.0