PUTRAJAYA, April 1 — The Energy Commission (ST) is reviewing several legal and regulatory frameworks, including mechanisms for electricity cross-border trading, as part of its efforts to support energy sector stability and sustainable growth.
Its chief executive officer, Siti Safinah Salleh, said the commission is currently assessing existing policies while developing new frameworks to ensure the sector remains aligned with future requirements.
Also under review are the incentive-based regulation mechanisms for Regulatory Period 5 (RP5 2028—2030), which will begin in 2028, and mechanisms for electricity cross-border trading for import and export.
“We are currently reviewing and also developing several legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure that the sector remains aligned with future requirements and policies,” she said at the ST Annual Regulatory Review (STARR) 2026 here today.
She said the commission is looking to enhance open grid access, or third-party access, through initiatives such as the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS) and the Community Renewable Energy Aggregation Mechanism (CREAM).
“(The review also covers) the public electricity distribution within dedicated areas, electricity supply Acts, as well as revisions, particularly to enforcement provisions, and technical standards for quality and safety.
“These efforts are aimed at ensuring that the regulatory framework remains relevant, robust and capable of supporting a more complex and dynamic energy landscape,” she said.
Meanwhile, ST, in a statement, said the commission maintains a strong focus on practical regulatory implementation, strengthening frameworks, standards, and market arrangements to support sector stability and sustainable growth.
This includes the enforcement of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) 2024, improvements in tariff mechanisms, and continued expansion of regulatory frameworks to support higher renewable energy (RE) development.
The review is anchored on ST’s six key regulatory pillars, covering: safety and enforcement; system reliability and energy security; fair and transparent tariffs; energy efficiency and sustainability; energy transition and market development; and governance, stakeholder engagement and institutional strengthening.
“Across these pillars, the energy sector recorded tangible progress. Notably, improvements were seen in safety outcomes, with lower electrical and gas-related incidents, while regulatory enhancements and licensing oversight continued to strengthen compliance across the sector,” the statement said. — Bernama
