Pay SESB & Sabah Water Bills: JomPAY, Tariffs & More
Everything you need to know about paying for power, water, internet, and other essential services in Sabah. This page includes current tariffs, contact numbers, and the fastest ways to pay your bills.
Electricity (SESB)
💡 Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB)
State electricity utilityElectricity Tariffs (Domestic)
Sabah uses a tiered tariff system. The more you use, the higher the rate per unit (kWh):
| Usage (kWh/month) | Rate per kWh | Typical Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 1–200 kWh | 22.02 sen | Small flat, minimal air-con |
| 201–300 kWh | 37.76 sen | Average household, some air-con |
| 301–600 kWh | 49.26 sen | Family home, regular air-con |
| 601–1,000 kWh | 51.49 sen | Large house, heavy air-con |
| 1,001–1,500 kWh | 54.69 sen | Very high usage |
| 1,501 kWh and above | 59.85 sen | — |
- 1–200 kWh 22.02 sen
- 201–300 kWh 37.76 sen
- 301–600 kWh 49.26 sen
- 601–1,000 kWh 51.49 sen
- 1,001–1,500 kWh 54.69 sen
- 1,501 kWh and above 59.85 sen
Rate per kWh by monthly usage band, domestic tariff from 1 February 2026.
Source: SESB Domestic Tariff DM; Chief Minister of Sabah. Checked 7 October 2026
SESB Domestic Tariff DM, effective 1 February 2026, the first revision since 2014. The average base tariff rose from 34.52 to 39.70 sen/kWh (Chief Minister of Sabah, checked 7 October 2026). Minimum monthly charge: RM5.00. Source: SESB Tariff Booklet, effective 1 February 2026, Schedule 1; FMM circular, 10 February 2026; Borneo Post, 31 January 2026 (same rates since 2014). Earlier versions of this table showed Peninsular (TNB) rates by mistake. Why the tariff rose: Sabah's power plan explained. For worked bill examples and the subsidy history, see our tariff and subsidy explainer.
Air conditioning is usually the biggest power cost at home. Set it a few degrees warmer, use a fan with it, and set a timer for night use. To see what your own aircons, heaters and appliances use, try our free SESB Electricity Calculator (Bahasa Malaysia).
Water (JANS)
💧 Sabah Water Department (Jabatan Air Negeri Sabah, JANS)
State water supplyWater Tariffs (Domestic)
| Usage (m³/month) | Rate per m³ |
|---|---|
| 0–10 m³ | RM0.30 |
| 11–20 m³ | RM0.60 |
| 21–35 m³ | RM1.10 |
| 36–60 m³ | RM1.30 |
| Above 60 m³ | RM1.80 |
- 0–10 m³ RM0.30
- 11–20 m³ RM0.60
- 21–35 m³ RM1.10
- 36–60 m³ RM1.30
- Above 60 m³ RM1.80
RM per m³, Domestic 1 tariff (individual domestic consumer). One m³ is 1,000 litres.
Source: Sabah Water Department water tariff, checked 7 October 2026
Domestic 1 tariff (individual domestic consumer). Minimum charge: RM3.00. Apartments and condominiums on a bulk meter pay a different flat rate (Sabah Water Department water tariff, checked 7 October 2026).
Our free Sabah Water Bill Calculator turns your bill or meter readings into blue water tanks, works out litres per person against the Malaysian average, and flags when a leak might be hiding in your bill.
JANS regularly schedules maintenance and Sabah experiences water disruptions, especially during dry spells. Keep water reserves at home — a water tank or at minimum a few large containers. Check the JANS website for disruption notices.
Internet Providers
Fibre internet is expanding in Sabah but remains limited to urban areas. Plan prices and speeds change often, so compare current plans on each provider's website:
| Provider | Type | Plans and coverage check |
|---|---|---|
| TM Unifi | Fibre | unifi.com.my |
| CelcomDigi Fibre | Fibre | celcomdigi.com |
| Maxis Fibre | Fibre | maxis.com.my |
| Starlink | Satellite | starlink.com |
Fibre availability varies street by street. Always check coverage at your exact address on the provider's website. Where there is no fibre, consider home wireless broadband from a mobile provider or satellite internet.
Mobile Telecoms
Prepaid and postpaid prices change often, so check current plans and coverage maps on each provider's website.
| Provider | Plans and coverage | Customer Service |
|---|---|---|
| CelcomDigi | celcomdigi.com | See website |
| Maxis / Hotlink | maxis.com.my | 123 from a Maxis line, 1800 82 1123 from other lines (Maxis, checked 7 October 2026) |
| U Mobile | u.com.my | See website |
| Unifi Mobile | unifi.com.my | 100 (Unifi, checked 7 October 2026) |
| Yes | yes.my | See website |
Tourist SIM: prepaid SIM cards are sold at Kota Kinabalu International Airport and in town. Top up at convenience stores or in the provider's app.
Gas (LPG)
Most Sabah homes cook with LPG cylinders (tong gas), sold at petrol stations, hardware shops and by gas delivery services.
The price of the subsidised 14kg domestic cylinder is controlled by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN). Commercial cylinders (14kg commercial and 50kg) are not subsidised and cost more. In April 2026 KPDN confirmed that a reported price rise applied to commercial cylinders, not the subsidised domestic cylinder (RTM, checked 7 October 2026). Ask your dealer for the current controlled price, and report overcharging to KPDN.
Waste & Recycling
Rubbish collection in Kota Kinabalu comes under Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK), which has its own solid waste collection department (Jabatan Pengurusan Kenderaan dan Pengutipan Sisa Pepejal) and city cleansing department (DBKK, checked 7 October 2026). Other districts are handled by their local council (Majlis Daerah or Majlis Perbandaran).
| Service | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DBKK complaints | 012-822 6601 / 012-811 4465 WhatsApp 012-222 0220 | Report missed collections and illegal dumping. Calls Mon–Thu 8am–1pm and 2pm–4.30pm, Fri 8am–11.30am and 2pm–4.30pm; WhatsApp daily 8am–10pm (DBKK, checked 7 October 2026) |
| Recycling drop-off | — | Limited. Some supermarkets and malls have drop-off points |
Bill Payment Quick Reference
The fastest way to pay any utility bill in Sabah:
- Open your bank app Choose JomPAY or Pay Bills.
- Enter the biller code It is printed beside the JomPAY logo on your bill.
- Enter Ref-1 Your account or bill number, printed next to the JomPAY logo.
- Pay and keep the receipt Save the reference number in case of a dispute.
📱 JomPAY (Recommended)
Pay through any Malaysian banking app. Enter the biller code and your account number.
🏦 Online Banking and Apps
Most banks list the main utilities as billers. Water bills can also be paid through Sabah Pay, Maybank2u, Pos Online, Agrobank and BSN (Sabah Water Department, checked 7 October 2026).
📮 Post Office
Water bills can be paid at post offices, BSN and Agrobank branches and the UTC Sabah counter in Kota Kinabalu (Sabah Water Department payment counters, checked 7 October 2026). Bring your bill or account number.
🏢 Counter Payment
SESB and JANS offices accept walk-in payments. Check opening hours on the SESB and Sabah Water Department websites before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Q Why does Sabah have so many power outages?
Sabah's power infrastructure has historically been underdeveloped compared to Peninsular Malaysia. Key reasons:
- Ageing infrastructure — Many substations and transmission lines are decades old
- Geographic challenges — Vast distances between population centres make maintenance difficult
- Growing demand — Population and industrial growth outpacing grid upgrades
- Weather — Thunderstorms and heavy rain cause tree falls and equipment damage
SESB has been investing in grid upgrades. To report outages: call the SESB Careline on 15454.
Q How do I set up utilities when moving into a new home in Sabah?
Here's the checklist:
- Electricity (SESB): Apply to SESB. Check the documents, deposit and processing time with SESB before you go, as they depend on the premises.
- Water (JANS): The Sabah Water Department deposit for a house is RM100 if the house is registered in the owner's name, RM200 for a house rented out under a tenancy or hire-purchase (sewa/beli) agreement, RM200 for a house built on government or kampung land inside a local council's rated area, and RM500 for a house built on rented land or land under a hire-purchase agreement. A new 15mm meter connection costs RM130 (Sabah Water Department fees, checked 7 October 2026).
- Internet: Apply with the provider and check fibre coverage at your exact address first.
Most landlords keep utilities connected and you take over the account. Ask your landlord for the handover process.
Q Which mobile provider has the best coverage in Sabah?
Coverage changes as networks are upgraded, so check each provider's coverage map for the exact places you live and travel to. The main mobile providers in Sabah are CelcomDigi, Maxis (including Hotlink), U Mobile, Unifi Mobile and Yes.
If you are heading to remote areas such as Kinabatangan, Danum Valley or the islands, expect no signal in some jungle and offshore areas whichever network you use.
Q Is fibre internet available outside of KK?
Fibre is mainly found in the larger towns and coverage varies street by street, so check your exact address on the provider's website before you sign up. Where there is no fibre, the usual alternatives are home wireless broadband or a mobile hotspot from a mobile provider, or satellite internet such as Starlink.
Q How much is the average monthly utility bill in Sabah?
It depends mostly on how much air-conditioning you use. You can work out the electricity energy charge from the SESB rates in the table on this page, and the water charge from the Sabah Water Department rates. Internet and mobile plan prices change often, so check them on each provider's website.
For worked electricity bill examples, see our tariff and subsidy explainer.
Q What is JomPAY and how do I use it?
JomPAY is Malaysia's national bill payment system. You can pay virtually any bill through your banking app using the biller code and your account number.
How to use: Open your banking app → Find JomPAY or Bill Payment → Enter the biller code → Enter your account/reference number → Confirm payment.
The biller code for each utility is printed on your bill. The Sabah Water Department lists JomPAY as one of its payment options.
Sources & References 7 sources
Last verified: October 2026