KUALA LUMPUR: The government is reviewing solar installation costs and financing options to make renewable energy more accessible to low- and middle-income households, particularly those in the B40 and M40 groups.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof said options included market-based financing models such as leasing and rent-to-own schemes to reduce the upfront costs for households unable to pay for solar installations in cash.
“Such models can help expand access to households that face financial constraints in paying the full installation cost upfront,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin), who sought updates on the Rooftop Solar Programme and Suria Home initiative, including the number of participating households and measures to improve access for B40 and M40 groups through rebates, rental schemes or affordable financing.
Fadillah, who is also energy transition and water transformation minister, said the government had introduced the Suria Home programme with an allocation of RM150 million to make residential solar installations more affordable.
Under the programme, eligible consumers receive a rebate of RM600 per kilowatt (kW), up to a maximum of RM3,000 for a 5kW solar installation.
“The programme targets between 45,000 and 50,000 households, subject to the fulfilment of its 250-megawatt (MW) capacity quota.
“As of Sept 15, a total of 12,374 domestic consumers had received rebates amounting to RM36.2 million,” he said.
Fadillah added that any improvements to the programme would take into account the effectiveness of financial assistance, the government’s fiscal capacity and the need to ensure that benefits were distributed transparently to eligible consumers.