TNB Issues Advisory on EV Charging Risks. Here’s How Cucuk Charge Helps EV Owners Stay Safe

Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has officially acknowledged a rise in reports involving blown cut-out fuses and electrical overload in homes where EV chargers were installed incorrectly or operated beyond the home’s supply capacity.

In a letter issued by TNB’s Distribution Network Division to the President of Malaysia Zero Emission Vehicle Association (MyZEVA) and the President of Malaysia Electric Vehicle Owners Club (MyEVOC), the utility confirmed that many of these incidents originated from domestic single-phase homes, often traced back to overloading during EV charging.

In its official statement, TNB emphasised the importance of verifying the existing electrical supply capacity before installing an EV charger. The utility noted that, for instance, households with a 1-phase 5 kW supply seeking to install a 7 kW charger may need to upgrade to a three-phase supply to safely support the additional load.

TNB also referenced compliance with the Electricity Supply Application Handbook (ESAH v3.1) and the Suruhanjaya Tenaga (ST) Guide on Electric Vehicle Charging Systems for proper installation.

“We advise all homeowners and service providers to ensure installations are compliant and adequate to handle household and EV charger loads, in order to avoid overloading and power disruption,” TNB stated.

This letter was then shared publicly by Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, President of MYEVOC, who posted it on his Facebook page to raise awareness among EV owners. Through his post, he emphasised the urgency of proper installation and safe charging practices, especially for homeowners still on single-phase supply.

Datuk Shahrol noted that the community has already seen numerous cases of blown TNB cut-off fuses and even burnt fuse casings, typically when EVs are charged at 32A (7.4kW). Some cases had escalated into actual fires at the meter location. In a few instances, the homeowners were asleep, and it was neighbours or passers-by who spotted the fire and alerted them.

To reduce these risks, he echoed TNB’s advisory: Those who plan to charge consistently at 7kW should upgrade to a 3-phase supply. For homeowners who remain on single-phase, he added that a safer approach is to limit charging to 3–4kW (16–20A) to provide a safer margin. He also encouraged installing a smoke detector near the main TNB fuse or meter, especially in homes with electrical wiring older than 20 years.

His message to the EV community was clear: take these risks seriously and prioritise safety to avoid loss of property or life.

Single-Phase vs Three-Phase: It Depends on Your Home, Not Just Your Charger

While upgrading to three-phase is one effective way to increase available capacity, it is not a universal requirement. Many Malaysian homes can still charge safely on a single-phase system, provided the total household load is low enough, and the charging current is properly managed.

It ultimately comes down to:

This is why every home should be assessed individually, rather than assuming that single-phase is dangerous or that three-phase is automatically necessary.

How Cucuk Charge Ensures Safe, Compliant EV Charger Installation

At Cucuk Charge, installation is not just about mounting a charger; it is about ensuring your home is safe, compliant, and capable of supporting EV charging long-term. Our installations follow the exact requirements outlined by TNB and Suruhanjaya Tenaga.

Here’s how we approach every home:

1) Supply Capacity Assessment

Before recommending any charger, we verify your home’s supply capacity and evaluate how much load headroom you actually have. This determines whether you can safely stay on single-phase or whether an upgrade is advisable.

2) Full Compliance with TNB & ST Requirements

Our installations strictly adhere to:

This ensures your charger is installed safely and meets national regulatory standards.

3) Upgrade Options Where Needed

If an upgrade is required, we can support both paths:

4) Smart Solutions for Single-Phase Homes

For homes that remain on single-phase, we offer safe and intelligent alternatives such as Sparklin chargers with load-managing charging, enabling stable and protected EV charging even within limited supply capacity.

TNB’s acknowledgement of rising EV-related electrical incidents is an important reminder: safe EV charging begins with proper planning and correct installation. Whether your home is single-phase or three-phase, the key is ensuring your system is assessed, compliant, and installed by trained professionals.

Our mission is to make EV charging safe, simple, and accessible, while ensuring every homeowner gets the right solution for their home, not a one-size-fits-all setup.

Cucuk Charge: EV Charger Options Base Installation Costs

The prices below are starting rates, with the final cost confirmed after the site visit evaluation:

Coverage Area

Our installation service is currently available across the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, covering Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor.

Get in Touch with Us Today

If you’re an EV owner or property manager looking to set up a reliable charging solution, Cucuk Charge can help you make the transition simple and safe. Already have a charger and looking for someone to install it? We’ll handle the installation for you!

Drop us a line on WhatsApp at +60 3-3310 0030 (RKMD) for enquiries.

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