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Configure solarTNB Time-of-Use 2026: Peak Hours
2PM–10PM Weekdays Explained
Domestic peak hours are 2:00 PM–10:00 PM on weekdays only (28.52 sen/kWh). Saturdays, Sundays, and every gazetted Malaysian public holiday (cuti umum) are off-peak for the full 24 hours at just 24.43 sen/kWh — a lever many households overlook on TNB ToU. Here’s who qualifies, the exact rates, and how self-consumed solar displaces the peak rate.
On a business tariff (non-domestic, formerly B, C1, C2, E1–E3)? Use the commercial calculator →
Solar can offset the 2PM peak rate
Self-consumed solar replaces peak-rate electricity from early afternoon until the sun goes down. Check what it could save on your own bill, or see what a system costs for your monthly bill.
TNB Domestic ToU Tariff at a Glance (Effective 1 July 2025)
| Period | Hours | Days | Rate (≤1,500 kWh/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Monday – Friday only | 28.52 sen/kWh |
| Off-Peak | 10:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Monday – Friday (overnight) | 24.43 sen/kWh |
| Off-Peak | All 24 hours | Saturday & Sunday | 24.43 sen/kWh |
| Off-Peak | All 24 hours | Public Holidays | 24.43 sen/kWh |
Source: TNB (mytnb.com.my/tariff), effective 1 July 2025. Rates shown are energy charges only. Additional capacity (4.55 sen/kWh), network (12.85 sen/kWh), and retail (RM10/mo) charges apply. Non-domestic medium and high voltage tariffs (which replaced C1/C2/E1/E2/E3) have their own ToU rates — see below.
What Is TOU Tariff?
Time-of-Use (TOU) tariff is a pricing structure where TNB charges different rates for electricity depending on the time of day. During periods when national grid demand is high — primarily weekday business hours — electricity costs significantly more. During quieter periods at night and on weekends, rates are lower.
TOU pricing replaces the traditional flat-rate system for certain user categories. Under flat-rate billing, you pay the same sen/kWh regardless of when you consume electricity. Under TOU, the same appliance running at 2pm costs more than the same appliance running at 2am.
The rationale is straightforward: TNB must maintain enough power plant capacity to meet peak-hour demand, which is expensive. TOU pricing incentivises consumers to shift discretionary loads — water heating, production machinery, EV charging — to off-peak windows, reducing strain on the national grid.
Peak-rate hours are when solar works hardest
Time-of-use pricing makes daytime electricity the most expensive part of the bill, and that is when panels generate. Use the calculator for your own numbers, or see the system size and price for your monthly bill.
TNB ToU Rate Structure 2026
Domestic and commercial/industrial rates differ significantly — including different peak hours. Verify exact rates on your TNB bill or at tnb.com.my.
Domestic (Residential) ToU — Effective 1 July 2025
| Usage Tier | Peak Hours | Peak Rate | Off-Peak Rate | Off-Peak Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1,500 kWh/month | 2 PM – 10 PM weekdays | 28.52 sen/kWh | 24.43 sen/kWh | 10 PM–2 PM weekdays + all-day Sat/Sun/PH |
| > 1,500 kWh/month | 2 PM – 10 PM weekdays | 38.52 sen/kWh | 34.43 sen/kWh | 10 PM–2 PM weekdays + all-day Sat/Sun/PH |
Energy charges only. Additional charges: Capacity 4.55 sen/kWh, Network 12.85 sen/kWh, Retail RM10/month (waived at ≤800 kWh until 31 Dec 2026, then ≤600 kWh). Source: TNB mytnb.com.my/tariff, effective 1 July 2025. Opt-in only — apply via MyTNB app, email, or Kedai Tenaga.
Commercial & Industrial ToU (MV & HV Time of Use, formerly C1 / C2 / E1 / E2 / E3)
| Tariff Category | User Type | Peak Hours | Peak Rate | Off-Peak Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Voltage ToU | Commercial / industrial (MV) | 2 PM – 10 PM weekdays | 31.32 sen/kWh | 27.23 sen/kWh |
| High Voltage ToU | Large industrial (HV) | 2 PM – 10 PM weekdays | 44.52 sen/kWh | 40.43 sen/kWh |
Commercial/industrial rates are indicative for Peninsular Malaysia. Sabah (SESB) and Sarawak (SESCO) have separate tariff structures. Maximum demand charges apply additionally (RM97.06/kW on MV ToU, RM44.82/kW on HV ToU) and are not shown here. Note: the ToU peak window is 2 PM–10 PM, Monday to Friday, for every ToU tariff (domestic and non-domestic). Verify with your latest TNB bill.
Maximum Demand charges apply to medium and high voltage ToU tariffs (RM97.06/kW on MV ToU; RM44.82/kW on HV ToU). These are fixed monthly charges based on your highest 30-minute power demand during peak hours. Solar alone does not reduce maximum demand reliably — one cloudy half-hour during peak hours sets the month's MD — so MD savings come only from a battery (BESS) sized for peak shaving.
Who Is on TOU Tariff?
Domestic ToU is opt-in and available to all Peninsular Malaysia households from July 2025. Non-domestic ToU is optional too: per myTNB, customers on a General tariff may apply to switch — check the tariff printed on your bill.
Commercial & Industrial (Optional)
- Medium Voltage ToU — replaced the old C2/E2 peak/off-peak tariffs (peak 2 PM–10 PM weekdays)
- High Voltage ToU — replaced the old E3 tariff (peak 2 PM–10 PM weekdays)
- Tariff F — street lighting (separate structure)
- Low, medium and high voltage non-domestic customers can choose General or ToU
- Switching from General to ToU is by application to TNB (per myTNB)
Residential / Domestic (Opt-In, July 2025)
- All Tariff A domestic customers in Peninsular Malaysia
- ToU peak is 2 PM–10 PM weekdays for domestic and non-domestic users alike
- Requires Smart Meter, CT meter, or Remote Meter Reading device
- Apply: MyTNB app (from Aug 2025), email TNB, or Kedai Tenaga
- RM10 stamp duty on enrolment; RM10 retail charge waived if ≤800 kWh/mo until 31 Dec 2026 (≤600 kWh after)
How Solar Maximises TOU Savings
Solar panels generate electricity between roughly 7 AM and 6 PM — which covers the early part of the domestic peak window (2 PM to about 6 PM) and beyond. Every unit of solar energy self-consumed between 2 PM and 6 PM displaces the most expensive grid electricity (28.52 sen/kWh peak rate). After solar fades at 6 PM, a battery can extend that savings window through to the end of peak at 10 PM. Under the domestic ToU structure, solar + battery delivers a near-perfect match to the pricing structure.
Daily Electricity Cost Timeline (Domestic ToU)
Domestic peak (red) runs 2 PM–10 PM weekdays only — just 8 hours. Solar generation (amber) overlaps the 2 PM–~6 PM part of the peak (output falls through the afternoon) and continues into off-peak morning hours. A battery bridges the 6 PM–10 PM tail of peak when solar has faded. Weekends and public holidays are entirely green (off-peak all 24 hours).
Peak Offset
Solar self-consumption replaces the most expensive grid units, maximising sen-per-kWh savings.
MD Reduction (with BESS)
Solar alone does not reliably cut Maximum Demand; a battery sized for peak shaving is what reduces the MD charge.
Export Credits
Surplus solar exported earns credits that offset your off-peak nighttime consumption.
Solar + Battery + TOU: Triple Savings Stack
Adding battery storage unlocks a third layer of TOU savings on top of what solar alone delivers.
Solar Offsets Domestic Peak from 2 PM (Daytime)
Solar panels generate from 7 AM — well before the domestic peak starts at 2 PM. From 2 PM to ~6 PM, solar directly offsets the expensive peak rate of 28.52 sen/kWh. Every kWh it supplies is a kWh you do not buy at the peak rate; how much it covers depends on system size and your load.
Battery Stores Surplus Solar or Cheap Off-Peak Power
Any solar energy generated but not immediately consumed can be stored in a battery. Alternatively, charge the battery from cheap off-peak grid electricity at night (24.43 sen/kWh after 10 PM) to use as reserve during the following day's peak window.
Battery Covers 6 PM–10 PM (Evening Peak)
After solar generation fades around 6 PM, your battery kicks in to power consumption through the remaining peak window until 10 PM — 4 hours at 28.52 sen/kWh avoided. Without battery, this is the window where you pay the most with no solar offset.
Combined savings example: A commercial building on the MV General tariff with a 50kWp solar system + 100kWh battery can cut both its energy and maximum demand charges versus no solar — with 20+ years of reduced energy costs after payback.
TOU vs Flat Rate: Which Is Better?
The right tariff depends on your usage pattern — and whether you have solar.
| Scenario | Without Solar | With Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy morning use (before 2 PM) | ToU is cheaper — this is off-peak time, only 24.43 sen/kWh | Double benefit: solar + off-peak rate in the morning window |
| Heavy 2 PM – 10 PM use (peak window) | ToU costs more (28.52 vs 27.03 flat) — without a shift strategy, you pay more | Solar offsets the peak window directly — ToU becomes a major advantage |
| Heavy weekend / public holiday use | ToU saves money — weekends and PH are off-peak all day at 24.43 sen/kWh | Ideal: solar + off-peak rate all weekend = maximum savings |
| EV home charging | Schedule charging after 10 PM (off-peak) — saves vs flat rate | Charge on solar during the day (pre-2 PM) + off-peak at night = lowest cost per kWh |
Commercial and industrial next step
TOU gets more powerful when you combine solar, BESS and MD control
For factories, warehouses and cold-chain facilities, the tariff decision is not only peak versus off-peak kWh. The bigger opportunity is often the 30-minute maximum demand peak that sets the monthly MD charge. Solar reduces daytime demand, while BESS can cover compressor starts, shift changes and evening peaks that solar alone cannot guarantee.
BESS peak shaving
Store solar or off-peak energy and discharge during short factory peaks that would otherwise reset MD.
Maximum demand calculator
Estimate the monthly RM value of reducing 100-500 kW from a C&I TNB MD peak.
RP4 factory tariff guide
Understand MV General, MV ToU and HV tariff exposure before sizing solar-plus-storage.
On a commercial tariff?
Model your maximum demand savings, not just your kWh
If your bill shows a non-domestic tariff (or an older Tariff B, C1, C2, E1, E2 or E3 code), the residential calculator will not size your system correctly — your bill carries a maximum demand charge that solar alone may not reduce. Send us a recent bill and we will model the demand and energy sides separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about TOU tariff and solar in Malaysia.
What are TNB ToU peak hours?
For domestic (residential) customers on TNB's Time-of-Use scheme, peak hours are 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays (Monday to Friday) — that is 8 hours per weekday. The peak rate is 28.52 sen/kWh for households consuming up to 1,500 kWh/month, and 38.52 sen/kWh for usage above 1,500 kWh/month. All other hours are off-peak: 10:00 PM to 2:00 PM the next day on weekdays, and all 24 hours on weekends and public holidays. Note: non-domestic Medium and High Voltage ToU tariffs (which replaced C1/C2/E1/E2/E3 on 1 July 2025) have their own rates and also use a 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM weekday peak.
Are weekends off-peak on TNB ToU?
Yes. Under TNB's domestic Time-of-Use scheme, both Saturday and Sunday are off-peak for the full 24 hours — electricity costs 24.43 sen/kWh all weekend (for ≤1,500 kWh/month households). This compares to a weekday peak rate of 28.52 sen/kWh between 2 PM and 10 PM. Shifting discretionary loads — laundry, dishwasher, pool pump, EV charging — to weekends is the simplest way to cut your TNB bill on ToU.
Are public holidays off-peak on TNB ToU?
Yes. Gazetted Malaysian public holidays are classified as off-peak for the full 24 hours under TNB's domestic ToU scheme — the same as weekends. This includes Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Aidiladha, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Thaipusam, National Day (31 Aug), Malaysia Day (16 Sep), Christmas Day, and state public holidays. The practical result: in a typical week with a public holiday, you get an extra 24 hours of off-peak rates on top of the normal 48 weekend hours.
Is TNB ToU cheaper than the normal tariff?
It depends on when you use electricity. The normal domestic tariff (effective July 2025) is a flat 27.03 sen/kWh for ≤1,500 kWh/month. Under ToU, off-peak is 24.43 sen/kWh (cheaper by 2.60 sen) but peak is 28.52 sen/kWh (more expensive by 1.49 sen). If you can shift significant consumption to off-peak (10 PM–2 PM weekdays, or all day weekends/PH), ToU saves money. If you use most electricity during the 2 PM–10 PM peak window and can't shift, you'll pay more. Adding solar panels changes the equation dramatically — solar generates during peak hours, so every solar kWh self-consumed avoids the peak rate.
What is the TNB ToU peak rate per kWh?
The domestic TNB ToU peak energy rate (effective 1 July 2025) is 28.52 sen/kWh for households consuming up to 1,500 kWh per month, and 38.52 sen/kWh for consumption above 1,500 kWh/month. Peak hours run from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays. Additional charges apply on top of the energy rate: a capacity charge of 4.55 sen/kWh, a network charge of 12.85 sen/kWh, and a fixed retail charge of RM10/month (waived at 800 kWh or below until 31 December 2026, then 600 kWh or below).
Who can apply for TNB ToU tariff?
TNB's domestic ToU scheme is available to registered residential customers in Peninsular Malaysia. It is opt-in and not automatic — you must apply. As of August 2025, you can apply via the MyTNB app, by emailing TNB, or by visiting a Kedai Tenaga outlet. A one-time RM10 stamp duty applies upon enrollment. You need a compatible meter (Smart Meter, Current Transformer, or Remote Meter Reading device) — TNB will advise on your meter status when you apply.
Can solar panels save money under a TOU tariff?
Yes — significantly. Under the domestic TNB ToU scheme, solar panels generate electricity from roughly 7 AM to 6 PM, which covers the early part of the 2 PM–10 PM peak window (2 PM to about 6 PM) plus several off-peak morning hours. Every unit of solar self-consumed between 2 PM and 6 PM displaces electricity at the expensive 28.52 sen/kWh peak rate. How much extra this is worth compared with the general tariff depends on how much of your usage falls in the peak window; a battery can cover the 6 PM–10 PM tail.
Do I need a battery to benefit from ToU with solar?
Not necessarily. Even without a battery, solar delivers strong ToU savings by offsetting peak-hour consumption from 2 PM to 6 PM. A battery adds a second layer: you can store surplus solar energy and discharge it from 6 PM to 10 PM when solar generation has faded but peak pricing still applies — avoiding expensive grid electricity for four additional hours. The battery payback calculation depends on your evening peak consumption and the 4.09 sen/kWh rate differential between peak (28.52) and off-peak (24.43).
Maximise Your TOU Savings with Solar
Use our calculator to estimate how much you can save on your TNB bill with a solar system designed for your tariff, usage pattern, and roof.
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