Tesla home charger incorrectly installed before TNB electricity meter in Malaysia, video goes viral

Tesla home charger incorrectly installed before TNB electricity meter in Malaysia, video goes viral

Ensuring that a home electric vehicle charger is properly installed makes for safety, and the onus is on the home owner to check and find out that the work is done correctly. With this in mind, making sure that the charger is installed after the incoming mains meter is somewhat of a given, but it seems that nonsense can still happen.

Such is the case with a Tesla owner, who was paid a visit by a Tenaga Nasional field crew over an incorrectly installed junction box. In a video clip that has since gone viral, the TNB personnel can be seen telling the home owner that the incoming supply for his charger was tapped before the electricity meter, meaning that electricity usage from the EV charger was not being recorded, essentially leading to losses for the electricity provider.

The man can be heard telling the TNB staff he was not aware of the ‘improper’ install, stating that it was the work of the technicians who installed the unit, thereby implying that the error was made from their end. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, the TNB crewman said it could be the case, but then informed the man that it was nonetheless an offence and that the problem needed to be rectified immediately.

It is not known if any action will be taken by TNB in this case, but the lesson from this is that if you’re carrying out a home charger installation, make sure you know exactly how the work – and routing path – has been carried out. And, if you’re thinking that you can outsmart the provider, think again. Smart meters can detect such illegal installations, which is what alerted the TNB in this case

In the end, it’s not just inconvenience – and embarrassment – you have to worry about. Illegal wiring extensions resulting in electricity theft is punishable under Section 37(3) of the Electricity Supply Act 1990 by a fine of between RM1,000 to RM50,000 or a maximum one-year jail term or both for a first-time offender who is a domestic consumer.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Alfonso Romeo bin Kelembai on Aug 16, 2024 at 2:42 pm

    Because of free road tax for EV until 31 Dec 2025, he thinks charging is also FOC till then. LOL

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 41 Thumb down 1
    • Lets See on Aug 19, 2024 at 10:53 am

      He “didn’t know” after paying off/instructing the technician to install it that way.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • observer on Aug 16, 2024 at 2:52 pm

    You should be alarmed whenever the installer says the chargers can be installed next to the meter panel.
    Also, you should be alarmed if you notice no increase in power consumption in your bill after using the charger.
    The utility knows when people play victim/acting naive.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 43 Thumb down 0
  • newme on Aug 16, 2024 at 2:56 pm

    Impossible the installer unaware of this. It’s either installer is unqualified or instruction from the owner. Dua2 pun salah owner. Hire installer cap ayam and intentionally stealing electricity.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 45 Thumb down 1
  • Farid mana Farid, buka tu Farid.
    Tesla salah pasang.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
  • Soh@i on Aug 16, 2024 at 3:01 pm

    ignorantia juris non excusat

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 1
  • antiEV on Aug 16, 2024 at 3:25 pm

    Got $ to buy EV but no brain to understand the most basic requirement. Ignorant is such a lame excuse.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 0
  • awaKL on Aug 16, 2024 at 3:40 pm

    Buat tak tahu willful ignorance then in the heart hiya kan government punya duit itu I pun contribute sikit sekarang main nak ambil balik.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 1
  • Ben Yap on Aug 16, 2024 at 3:43 pm

    don’t blame technician la… the owner himself is guilty. it is like shot someone with a gun and said doesn’t know the gun is loaded.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 0
  • Yenxis on Aug 16, 2024 at 4:11 pm

    Owner flex to friend:”Walauweh..sooo cheap using EV meh”. “Cheap cheap cheap” (just like Singaporean sound)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 0
    • antiEV on Aug 16, 2024 at 7:37 pm

      eh….u don’t know meh ? they are the ‘national bird of JB’…hahahhaha…..’cheap cheap cheap’ is the only sound coming out from them…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • opmanmy on Aug 16, 2024 at 4:18 pm

    Dah kantoi…apa la…bagi saman kasi home owner tuh la. Dah la boleh pakai Tesla, rumah besar, 3-fasa wiring. Buat bodoh aje…konon.

    Kalau mcm ini boleh lepas….nanti semua pun ikut buat bodoh.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 0
  • TinKosong on Aug 16, 2024 at 4:33 pm

    Malaysia Boleh…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • you can afford an EV but you decide to employ 20sen electrician? knowing that if they screw up probably your car would fail or blow up? pls la…saman je.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 0
  • Sang Lestrik on Aug 16, 2024 at 4:55 pm

    Do invest and convert your landed house roof to Solar panels and LFP batteries storage. Peace of mind monthly with low charges of power utility bill.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 1
    • Massage chair podcast warriors on Aug 16, 2024 at 6:21 pm

      aiyoh why kacau tnb periuk nasi kenot bill high

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
  • Smart meter is not that smart. TNB have recorded of supplied and billed energy usage for certain area. They just compare and look for mismatched. Thats why the TNB staff said have to cut. Probably have been for few months.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • komarad on Aug 16, 2024 at 5:45 pm

    get free juice for his vehicle by acting dumb and ignorance….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
  • Sohai on Aug 16, 2024 at 5:46 pm

    Another downside of EV, people can always ‘steal’ or cheat on their electricity bill but you can’t cheat on internal combustion vehicles. Even if you don’t steal electricity, you can always hook up to a public electric point and gain free charging

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 3
  • Peppa on Aug 16, 2024 at 6:20 pm

    Typical Malaysian tesla owners. Fcking idiots

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 1
  • Lim Bizkit on Aug 16, 2024 at 6:47 pm

    Good explanation by the TNB technician. Please don’t steal anything, it’s a sin.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • anwar menang, T20 pun kencingkan rakyat on Aug 16, 2024 at 6:56 pm

    Looking at the Tenaga meter, it looks like the house has 3 phase wiring. So I can safely deduce that the house owner is part of the T20 category.

    This is the common character amongst most of the T20 category. Steal where possible… get caught put the blame on others… remember bosuku?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 1
  • muskymusk on Aug 16, 2024 at 7:03 pm

    it seems teslas are just here to cheat and steal

    first cheats the govt with false promises of factory to get a free pass to sell here

    next the owners cheat tnb..

    it seems being a dirty cheat is an STD that muskymusk is passing thru the tesla seats

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3
    • antitesla on Aug 16, 2024 at 7:42 pm

      too much trust being put into this scamEV car company. the gullible t20 is obviously easy to get scammed too.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
  • David on Aug 16, 2024 at 7:42 pm

    Big fat liar Tesla customer. Pretending not his fault. He never realised before and after fix that his bill showing no difference. Penipu

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 0
  • albag on Aug 16, 2024 at 7:52 pm

    ha ha ha.. drive tesla impossible dunno.. probably he’s the one who allow technician to install that way.. now kantoi buat bodo je la.. ha ha ha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
  • Sam "Hailat" Loo on Aug 16, 2024 at 8:54 pm

    Hahaha…!!! Tesla car owner as “conning” as Tesla real owner A-hole Musk…!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Ramai menteri mangkok dalam kabinet on Aug 16, 2024 at 10:29 pm

    Sambung sebelum meter ibarat menteri ambik gaji buta

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Golfer on Aug 17, 2024 at 3:54 pm

    This sohai Tesla owner obviously pretend dont know. Or else he will surely be fined or jailed or both.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Amateurs… I build a petrol station tapping from the riser pipe bypassing the platform…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • Ini 3rd party installation ni.
    Definitely not Tesla’s own technician.
    TNB needs to be vigilant to protect their rice bowl.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Buat buat bodoh

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Not the first and definitely not the last doing this sort of thing. Many more stealing electricity.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Mike Tee on Aug 19, 2024 at 11:23 am

    Tor soi ka

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • hahahaha. no need high education to understand this. is it become more rich become more dumb.??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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