The electricity bill is the one thing nobody checks before signing a tenancy agreement, and the one that causes the most grief three months later. Move into a unit where the power is already connected and never change the account name, and you are paying for electricity on someone else's account — with their arrears, their deposit and their name on the disconnection notice.
The fix is a tenancy change, or tukar nama. Short application, cheaper than most people expect, and the deposit is not a number anyone can quote you in advance.
What a TNB Tenancy Change Actually Is
Tenaga Nasional Berhad defines tenancy change as opening a new account for a customer moving into an existing premise that already has electrical installations in place.
It covers two situations: you bought a house from a previous owner, or you are renting and want the account in your own name rather than the landlord's.
It is not a new supply application, which is what you file when a premise has never been connected. If there is already a meter on the wall and it has been running, tenancy change is your route.
This is Peninsular Malaysia only. Sabah and Labuan are served by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and Sarawak by Sarawak Energy — different utilities, different forms. More on that below.
The Documents You Need, and Where to Submit Them
TNB's change of tenancy page lists the requirements, and there are fewer than most people assume.
- Completed and signed application form.
- Copy of your identification document. MyKad, Army ID, Police ID or passport only.
- Declaration form signed by the owner or occupier.
The ID copy has two formatting rules that hold up more applications than anything else on the list. Both sides must be presented, and the copy must be crossed at the top left corner of the image with the words "For TNB Purpose Only" or "Untuk Kegunaan TNB Sahaja". Write it on before you scan. A clean image without that annotation is still an incomplete document.
Two routes to submit, same charges either way. Online via the myTNB portal's change of tenancy service — register for a myTNB account first, since it is also the account you will use for billing. Or in person at the Kedai Tenaga nearest the premise, originals alongside copies. Online is usually faster: incomplete-document cases get resolved by upload rather than a second counter trip. Either way, have the existing TNB account number ready — it is on the previous bill.
What It Costs
Three separate payments, and only two of them are fixed.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Security deposit | Two months of estimated electricity usage for the premise |
| Stamp duty | RM10 |
| Processing fee | RM3.00 (low voltage) or RM80.00 (medium and high voltage) |
A residential home is low voltage, so the processing fee for most readers is RM3.
The deposit is the variable, and it is why nobody can quote you a number over the phone. Under the Electricity Supply Act, TNB may collect a deposit equivalent to two months of your estimated electricity usage, and the security deposit rules say that amount is calculated from an average of six months of consumption at the premise.
A studio with one aircon and a four-bedroom house with five will not land anywhere near each other. Ask the landlord what the bills have looked like and you will have a rough idea before you apply.
Two things about that deposit nobody mentions.
It earns interest. TNB pays simple interest on cash deposits at 2.5 per cent a year, credited once annually and reflected in the bill as part of the total deposit. On RM1,000 that is RM25 a year. Note the qualifier — cash deposits. Above RM2,000 you may opt for a bank guarantee instead, and a bank guarantee does not earn the 2.5 per cent.
It gets adjusted both ways. If your average two-month bill is less than the deposit paid, you can request a refund of the excess. If it is more, you will be asked to top up within a grace period. Households that install solar or switch to an EV are most likely to see that recalculation move — worth reading what replaced net energy metering in 2026 before assuming the bill only goes one direction.
Sabah and Sarawak Work Differently
Same principle, different utility.
In Sabah and Labuan, SESB is also permitted under the Electricity Supply Act 1990 to collect a deposit equivalent to two months of consumption, calculated from the average of the previous six months on the latest bill. For a brand new account, it is calculated from the declared maximum demand in kW stated in the application form and the PD-9.
SESB's deposit rules also fix where you pay: at the nearest SESB customer service counter, with only official SESB receipts counting as proof. Deposits under RM30,000 can be paid by cash, credit card or debit card. On closure, SESB refunds by bank credit, posted cheque, or transfer to another active SESB account in your name, after deducting anything outstanding.
Sarawak Energy runs its own collateral deposit and account processes. Moving within Sarawak, start at their customer service pages rather than assuming the TNB process applies.
The Order of Operations When You Move
Sequence matters more than speed.
- Before you sign, ask for the current account number and the last three bills.
- Get the declaration form signed by the owner while you still have their attention. Chasing a landlord for a signature after handover is its own genre of misery.
- Photograph the meter on key handover day, date visible. It is your only evidence of where the reading stood.
- Submit the tenancy change, pay the deposit, stamp duty and processing fee.
- Close your old account separately if you are leaving another premise in your name. A tenancy change on the new place does nothing to the old one, and your old deposit sits there until you apply to close it.
While the moving folder is open: your tenancy agreement needs stamping too, covered in how to stamp a tenancy agreement online, and your MyKad address is a separate update, covered in changing your address on your MyKad.
FAQ
How much is the TNB deposit for a rented house?
There is no single figure. TNB may collect a deposit equivalent to two months of estimated usage, calculated from an average of six months of consumption at that premise, so it varies by address.
Can I do a TNB tukar nama online?
Yes, through the myTNB portal, or in person at the Kedai Tenaga nearest your premise. Documents and charges are the same on both routes.
What is the processing fee for a TNB change of tenancy?
RM3.00 for low voltage, which covers ordinary residential premises, or RM80.00 for medium and high voltage. Stamp duty of RM10 is payable on top, separate from the deposit.
Do I get my TNB deposit back?
Yes, on closing the account, after any outstanding amount is deducted. Cash deposits also earn simple interest at 2.5 per cent a year, credited annually.
Does this process apply in Sabah and Sarawak?
No. Sabah and Labuan are served by SESB and Sarawak by Sarawak Energy, each with its own forms, counters and deposit rules.
