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Electricity users in the dark about new billing system
With only few weeks before excess-use charges go into effect, most households are still in the dark about how to avoid the 60 percent penalty
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With only few weeks before excess-use charges go into effect, most households are still in the dark about how to avoid the 60 percent penalty.
State electricity company PLN announced it would implement a new "incentive-disincentive" program starting Apr. 1.
Customers whose use exceeds national benchmarks (see Table) will have to pay 60 percent more for every extra kilowatt they use. But those who consume less will get a 20 percent discount. The benchmarks are calculated on the basis of average 2007 consumption shaved down by 20 percent.
"I overheard the news on TV. But I don't exactly understand the calculation," said Ibu Sumantri, who was queuing to pay her monthly electricity bill at a billing booth in Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta.
Another woman, hearing Ibu Sumantri's remark, said "Why bother counting. I prefer to turn off any unnecessary lights or electrical appliances at home."
The woman said she managed to push her electricity bill down from Rp 750,000 to Rp 500,000. Her home has a capacity of 1,300 volt ampere (VA).
Another customer, Bapak Tiarto, who is also head of a community unit (RW) in Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta, regretted that the new billing system was announced through mass media but not through official channels. "You can see for yourself. There's no poster here saying anything about the calculation procedure of the new system."
When asked whether the announcement about the billing system was mailed to his home, Tiarto said "I'm a retiree and stay at home most of the time. Up until now, I haven't received anything in the mail from PLN about it."
A resident of Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, 67-year-old Elly said she paid her bill via her bank's ATM. "I don't even know the exact electricity consumption because the ATM receipt only states the amount of money paid."
Elly, whose home is equipped with 2,200 VA of electricity, said all she could do now is use energy-saving light bulbs and set the temperature on the AC a few degrees higher.
Tulus Abadi from the Indonesian Consumer Foundation said PLN has yet to recognize the rights of customers to clear, accurate information. "Most of public isn't well-informed on the technical issues, like how they're going to make the calculations on this new program, because it was introduced so recently."
He said actual notice of the new policy should be given to each customer rather than merely announcing it via the mass media.
However, Deputy Manager of Communication of PLN in Jakarta and Tangerang Azwar Lubis said that "We have been publicizing this program for quite a while now with our "20 percent electricity conservation" campaign on the radio and in newspapers, magazines, banners, and leaflets."
As of the evening of Mar. 12 The Jakarta Post could find no information at the PLN website, www.pln.co.id on the "incentive-disincentive" program. There was no list of the benchmarks, for example.
Households make up to 90 percent of the electricity customers in Jakarta and 93 percent of the households nationwide.
