So Only Low-Consumption Households Matter? My Thoughts on the New Electricity Disconnection Policy

Good day, Everyone! As usual, Hive posting first before working...🤣😆😂

Today, I just want to share something that has been bothering me since I heard about the latest announcement regarding electricity bill disconnections. From what I understand, the protection against disconnection until the end of 2026 will only apply to households consuming 200 kWh and below. While I understand that the policy may be intended to help low-consuming households, I cannot help but feel that it is unfair to many other consumers who are struggling just as much.

As someone whose electricity consumption often goes beyond 200 kWh, I immediately felt disappointed upon hearing the news. Does consuming more than 200 kWh automatically mean a household has more money and fewer financial problems? I do not think so.

Many families exceed that consumption level not because they are wealthy, but because of their circumstances. Some households have more family members, work-from-home setups, online students, elderly family members who need electric fans or air conditioning more often, and appliances that are necessary for daily living. In today's world, electricity is no longer a luxury. It has become a basic necessity.

What makes this frustrating is that financial struggles can affect anyone, regardless of their monthly electricity consumption. Losing a job, experiencing emergencies, dealing with medical expenses, or facing unexpected bills can happen to both low- and high-consumption households. Yet the current policy seems to draw a line based solely on electricity usage.

I am grateful that assistance is being provided to some consumers because many households truly need help. However, I feel that the policy could have been designed in a more inclusive way. Instead of focusing only on consumption levels, perhaps there could be other criteria that better reflect a household's actual financial situation.

As someone who has faced financial challenges over the past months, every bill matters. Electricity is one of those expenses that cannot simply be ignored. We need it for work, communication, food storage, and countless daily activities. The fear of possible disconnection remains a concern for many of us who fall outside the 200-kWh threshold, even though we are also trying our best to stay afloat.

At the end of the day, I know policies are never perfect, and it is impossible to satisfy everyone. Still, I hope decisionmakers consider that electricity consumption is not always an accurate measure of a person's ability to pay. Many ordinary consumers are struggling quietly, and their voices deserve to be heard too.

For now, all I can do is continue budgeting carefully, paying what I can, and hoping for more balanced solutions in the future.

Thank you for reading my little rant today. I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you think using a 200-kWh limit is fair, or should financial assistance and protection programs consider other factors as well?

Have a great day, Hive Friends all over the world!