Factory Power Supply in Malaysia: Is 200A, 400A or 1,200A Really Enough for Your Business?

When searching for a factory, most business owners naturally focus on:

  • Location
  • Land size
  • Built-up area
  • Ceiling height
  • Container access
  • Asking price

But for a manufacturing business, one technical factor can determine whether the property actually works:

Electrical power supply.

A factory may look perfect.

The location may be right.
The building may be in good condition.
The price may be attractive.
The ceiling may be high.

But if the electrical supply cannot support your machinery and production load, the factory may still be unsuitable for your business.

This is why power supply should be checked early — ideally before signing the SPA or Tenancy Agreement.

What Do “200 Amp”, “400 Amp” and “1,200 Amp” Actually Mean?

In Malaysian industrial property listings, power supply is commonly described as:

  • 100 Amp
  • 200 Amp
  • 400 Amp
  • 600 Amp
  • 800 Amp
  • 1,200 Amp
  • 1,500 Amp
  • Or higher

These figures are useful as an initial reference.

However, the Amp number alone should not be treated as a complete assessment of a factory’s electrical capacity.

For a serious manufacturing operation, you may also need to understand:

  • Supply voltage
  • Single-phase or three-phase supply
  • Maximum Demand
  • Metering arrangement
  • Existing transformer or substation
  • Actual connected load
  • Available capacity for expansion

TNB’s current published information states that non-domestic low-voltage supply can include three-phase supply, with CT-metered low-voltage supply available up to 1,000 kVA Maximum Demand, depending on the applicable supply scheme. Higher-demand consumers may require medium-voltage supply instead. (TNB)

So instead of asking only:

“How many Amp does this factory have?”

A better question is:

“Can the existing electrical supply support my actual operation and future expansion?”

Why One Factory May Need 200A While Another Needs Much More

There is no universal power requirement for a factory.

Two companies occupying buildings of exactly the same size can have completely different electrical loads.

Example A: Warehouse and Light Assembly

A company mainly uses the premises for:

  • Storage
  • Packing
  • Office
  • Light assembly
  • Forklift charging
  • Small equipment

Its electrical requirement may be relatively modest.

Example B: Manufacturing Operation

Another company uses the same-sized factory for:

  • CNC machines
  • Compressors
  • Heavy motors
  • Production lines
  • Chillers
  • Automation
  • Large air-conditioning systems

Its electrical requirement can be significantly higher.

That is why asking:

“Is 200 Amp enough?”

does not have one standard answer.

The correct answer depends on the equipment and how the factory will actually operate.

What Types of Businesses Usually Have Higher Electrical Demand?

There is no fixed Amp requirement that applies to every business within a particular industry.

Machine specifications, production capacity, operating hours and equipment configuration can all change the electrical load.

However, some operations commonly have higher electricity requirements.

Cold Room and Food Processing

Businesses operating cold rooms may require substantial electrical capacity because refrigeration systems can operate for long periods.

Food production may also involve:

  • Chillers
  • Freezers
  • Ovens
  • Pumps
  • Mixers
  • Processing lines
  • Packaging machinery
  • Air-conditioning
  • Ventilation systems

So when viewing a factory for food manufacturing, looking only at the building size is not enough.

The electrical system needs to match the operation.

CNC and Precision Manufacturing

A precision engineering company may operate several CNC machines at the same time.

But the CNC machines are not the only electrical load.

The factory may also require:

  • Air compressors
  • Cooling systems
  • Exhaust systems
  • Lighting
  • Office equipment
  • Supporting machinery

If the business expects to add more machines later, future power requirements should also be included in the planning.

Plastic Injection Moulding

Plastic injection moulding machines can have significant electrical demand depending on:

  • Machine capacity
  • Heating systems
  • Hydraulic or electric drive systems
  • Number of machines
  • Production hours
  • Supporting equipment

A factory may physically accommodate ten machines but still be limited by the available electrical supply.

In that situation, the constraint is not floor space.

It is power.

Metal and Heavy Manufacturing

Industrial operations involving:

  • Cutting
  • Welding
  • Press machines
  • CNC equipment
  • Compressors
  • Furnaces
  • Heating
  • Melting

may require considerably more electrical capacity than general warehousing or light manufacturing.

Again, the exact requirement should be calculated from the actual equipment rather than estimated purely from the type of industry.

Automated Warehousing

Even warehouses can have significant electrical demand.

A modern logistics operation may use:

  • Conveyor systems
  • Automated sorting
  • ASRS
  • Robotics
  • Cold storage
  • Charging systems

So the assumption that:

“Warehouse means low power requirement”

is becoming less reliable as industrial operations become more automated.

Important: Amp and kVA Are Not the Same Thing

This is one of the most common misunderstandings in industrial property.

You may hear:

“This factory has 400 kVA.”

and someone interprets that as:

“So it has 400 Amp.”

That is incorrect.

kVA and Amp measure different things.

Amp measures electrical current.

kVA measures apparent power.

For a three-phase electrical system, the relationship between kVA and current depends mainly on:

  • Supply voltage
  • Whether the supply is single-phase or three-phase

Power factor becomes relevant when converting between kW and kVA, or when determining the current required for a particular amount of real power.

For example, using a simplified calculation for a 400V three-phase system:

Current ≈ kVA × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × Voltage)

So:

400 kVA at 400V three-phase ≈ 577 Amp

Not 400 Amp.

This is why:

400 kVA ≠ 400 Amp.

For an actual factory, the final assessment should be carried out using the real electrical system and equipment specifications.

Why Industrial Listings Still Use “Amp”

Using Amp figures in factory advertisements is common because it gives buyers a quick indication of the electrical setup.

You may therefore see listings stating:

Power: 400 Amp

or

Power: 1,200 Amp

These figures are useful for preliminary screening.

But serious buyers should verify the electrical supply rather than relying solely on the advertisement.

TNB’s 2025 Connection Charges booklet, for example, lists different Current Transformer ratios for different Maximum Demand ranges under three-phase 400V supply. Examples include 400/5, 600/5, 800/5, 1,000/5 and 1,200/5 CT ratios, subject to TNB’s technical requirements. (TNB)

This reinforces an important point:

A quoted “Amp” figure is a useful reference — not a complete electrical assessment.

“Power Not Enough? Later Just Upgrade.”

This sentence should be treated carefully.

Sometimes an electrical upgrade may be possible.

But it should never automatically be assumed.

TNB designs the applicable supply scheme based on the consumer’s declared demand and required supply arrangement. Certain supply schemes are also subject to TNB system capability studies. (TNB)

An upgrade may depend on factors such as:

  • Available network capacity
  • Existing TNB infrastructure
  • Nearby supply source
  • Substation requirements
  • Transformer capacity
  • Cabling
  • Switchgear
  • Metering
  • Application requirements
  • Technical design
  • Upgrade cost

Therefore:

“Existing power is 200A but can upgrade to 600A”

should not be presented as a guaranteed fact unless the feasibility has actually been checked.

A safer approach is:

The power upgrade may be possible, subject to technical assessment and TNB requirements.

Why Power Upgrade Feasibility Matters Before You Sign

Imagine a manufacturing company preparing to relocate.

The company has already:

  • Signed the tenancy
  • Paid deposits
  • Ordered machines
  • Appointed renovation contractors
  • Planned the production shutdown
  • Confirmed its moving schedule

Then it discovers that the existing electrical supply cannot support the new machinery.

Even if an upgrade is possible, the required application and infrastructure works could affect the company’s relocation programme.

For a manufacturing business, delays can lead to:

  • Production downtime
  • Delayed customer orders
  • Temporary warehouse costs
  • Machinery storage costs
  • Additional contractor expenses
  • Operational disruption

This is why electrical feasibility should ideally be checked before major commitments are made.

Do Not Calculate Only for Today’s Machines

Another common mistake is checking only the current equipment.

Imagine your company currently operates five machines.

The new factory has enough capacity for those five.

You move in.

Two years later, orders increase and you want to install another three machines.

Now the factory’s electrical capacity becomes the limitation.

Before buying or renting, think about the next:

3 to 5 years.

Consider possible future requirements such as:

  • Additional production machines
  • Larger cold rooms
  • New production lines
  • More automation
  • Additional office space
  • More air-conditioning
  • Charging infrastructure
  • Expansion of operating hours

A factory should ideally support both your present operation and a reasonable level of future growth.

But Higher Power Does Not Automatically Mean a Better Factory

This is equally important.

Imagine:

Factory A

Existing electrical capacity is much higher than you need.

Factory B

Electrical capacity comfortably supports your business with reasonable room for expansion.

If Factory A costs substantially more, the additional electrical capacity may not provide meaningful value to your company.

The objective should not be:

“Find the factory with the highest Amp.”

The objective should be:

“Find a factory with the right electrical capacity for our operation.”

Specifications should serve the business.

Not the other way around.

What Should You Ask During a Factory Viewing?

If power supply is important to your operation, do not stop after asking for the Amp figure.

Useful questions include:

  • What is the existing electrical supply?
  • Is the supply single-phase or three-phase?
  • What is the supply voltage?
  • What is the registered or declared Maximum Demand?
  • Is there CT metering?
  • Is there an existing transformer?
  • Is there a substation?
  • Is the supply currently active?
  • What electrical load was used by the previous occupier?
  • Are electrical drawings available?
  • Has the supply been upgraded previously?
  • Has anyone checked whether further upgrading is feasible?

Not every seller or landlord will have all these answers.

That itself tells you when further verification may be necessary.

What Is Maximum Demand?

Maximum Demand, commonly called MD, is another useful concept for industrial users.

It broadly refers to the highest demand placed on the electricity supply over the relevant measurement period.

For planning purposes, TNB requires declared demand information so that the appropriate network and supply scheme can be designed. TNB’s published guidelines specifically note that accurate estimation of initial and future consumer demand is important when sizing electrical infrastructure. (TNB)

For a factory buyer, this means electrical planning should not simply be:

“We have ten machines, so we add all the numbers together.”

A proper load assessment should consider:

  • Which machines operate simultaneously
  • Starting currents
  • Motor loads
  • Heating equipment
  • Cooling equipment
  • Lighting
  • Office load
  • Supporting systems
  • Expected future additions

This is where professional electrical input becomes valuable.

When Should You Engage an Electrical Professional?

If the factory will be used for significant manufacturing, it is wise to involve a suitably qualified electrical professional early.

In Malaysia, Suruhanjaya Tenaga states that individuals carrying out, supervising or taking responsibility for electrical works and installations must be certified as Electrical Competent Persons.

Recognised categories include:

  • Electrical Engineers
  • Electrical Supervisors
  • Chargemen
  • Wiremen
  • Electrical Services Engineers
  • Cable Jointers

depending on the work involved. (Suruhanjaya Tenaga)

Suruhanjaya Tenaga also maintains records of registered professionals and electrical industry licensees for verification. (Suruhanjaya Tenaga)

For property selection purposes, the right professional can help determine whether the factory’s existing system is suitable for the company’s intended operation.

Prepare Your Machinery List Before Looking for a Factory

One of the most useful things a manufacturer can prepare before beginning a factory search is a machinery schedule.

For each major machine, record information such as:

  • Machine description
  • Quantity
  • Rated power
  • Motor size
  • Voltage
  • Operating hours
  • Whether machines run simultaneously
  • Planned future machines

Your electrical professional can then use the actual equipment information to estimate the required load.

This makes the factory search much more efficient.

Instead of saying:

“We need a high-power factory.”

you can provide a more meaningful requirement based on your operating load.

A Simple Factory Comparison

Consider two similar factories.

Factory A

Selling Price: RM8 million
Electrical Supply: Lower existing capacity
Location: Suitable
Building: Suitable

Factory B

Selling Price: RM8.5 million
Electrical Supply: Higher existing capacity
Location: Similar
Building: Similar

On paper, Factory A is RM500,000 cheaper.

But assume your operation requires significantly more electrical capacity than Factory A currently has.

If Factory A later requires:

  • Infrastructure upgrades
  • Electrical design work
  • Additional equipment
  • TNB-related works
  • Delayed move-in

the RM500,000 saving may become much less meaningful.

This does not mean Factory B is automatically the better purchase.

It means the comparison should include:

The cost and feasibility of making the property operational for your business.

That is the real industrial property comparison.

Power Is Only One Part of Factory Selection

A factory with excellent electrical infrastructure can still be unsuitable for other reasons.

Power should always be considered together with:

  • Industrial zoning
  • Approved use
  • CCC / CF
  • Floor loading
  • Ceiling height
  • Container access
  • Loading space
  • Drainage
  • Fire requirements
  • Environmental requirements
  • Building condition
  • Expansion potential

For example:

A factory may have very high electrical capacity.

But if your machine requires 40ft clear height and the building only provides 25ft, the power advantage does not solve the problem.

Industrial property selection is about finding the right combination of specifications.

Before You Buy or Rent, Know Your Electrical Requirement

The biggest mistake is not choosing a factory with “too little Amp.”

The bigger mistake is:

Not knowing how much power your business actually needs.

Before committing to a factory:

Understand your machinery.

Estimate your current load.

Consider your future expansion.

Then verify whether the property can support it.

Do not simply rely on:

“Power: 400 Amp.”

And do not automatically accept:

“Can upgrade later.”

The better question is:

“Can this electrical infrastructure support our operation today — and where reasonably possible, our future growth?”

That is what matters.

Factory Land Hub

At Factory Land Hub, we believe industrial property should be evaluated based on how the business will actually operate inside it.

Power supply is only one part of the equation.

Floor loading, ceiling height, zoning, approvals, logistics and future expansion can all determine whether a factory is truly suitable.

The goal is not simply to find a factory.

It is to find a factory that works for the business.

This article is intended for general industrial property knowledge sharing only and does not constitute electrical engineering or technical advice. Electrical requirements vary according to equipment, installation design and operating conditions. Buyers and occupiers should obtain appropriate advice from suitably qualified electrical professionals or Energy Commission-registered competent persons where applicable, and verify supply feasibility with TNB where necessary, before making a property commitment.