Let’s get to the point: would the nem rakyat program actually help you cut down on your monthly electricity bill? A lot of people talk about how to make the world a better place, but most of us also want to save money. That’s fair, isn’t it? Let’s use some common sense and do the math.

First, remember the major benefit of the plan: you get credit for every kilowatt-hour you create but don’t spend at a rate of 1 to 1. No cheating and no math that doesn’t make sense. If you use 400 kWh and make 300 kWh, you just pay for 100 kWh. That’s easy to comprehend, and to be honest, I’m glad.

Now, the most important question: how much will this really lower your bill? In Malaysia, a landed house uses between 350 and 500 kWh of energy each month. Not a mansion, not a shoebox, just a regular terrace home sweating it out in the Malaysian sun. As long as the sun isn’t behind a lot of clouds or the neighbor’s big rambutan tree, a 4 to 6 kW solar PV system on the roof may make about 450 to 650 kWh of electricity per month.

People who own homes can save between 60% and 90% on their monthly electricity expenditure. If your bill is RM250 a month, you might save between RM150 and RM200. That comes out to about RM1,800 and RM2,400 a year. Don’t expect miracles if you have your air conditioning on all the time. The more you use it, the more you’ll have to pay. But for a lot of people who use it a lot, the change is enough to see in their wallets.

However, installation costs money. If you want a system that can handle 4 to 6 kW, you should expect to pay between RM15,000 and RM25,000 up front. The good news is that most families get their money back in about five to seven years. Solar panels can last for 20 to 25 years or longer, and they can also help you save money on your expenses.

You can’t get rich quick by using NEM Rakyat’s net energy metering. If you want to save hundreds of dollars a year, make your home worth more, and help it fight back against rising rates, this is a fish worth catching. And since the sun shines most days there, why not let it work some magic on your bills? The statistics stack up, and sometimes that’s all you need to say.