PLN to switch off billboard lights at night

Ika Krismantari ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 05/14/2008 10:32 AM  |  Business

Stopping to stare at attractive models on giant billboards after midnight may become a thing of the past as state power firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) plans to switch off lights illuminating the advertisements to cut electricity consumption.

PLN's Jakarta and Tangerang units will soon flip the switch on 50 percent of their billboards in the areas, PLN's general manager for Jakarta and Tangerang distribution Purnomo Willy said Tuesday.

He said the policy was initiated under a plan to avoid over-consumption for commercial purposes, although he did not give details on how much electricity the effort would save.

Under the plan, the lights will be switched off starting midnight.

The policy, Purnomo said, forms part of the company's program to conserve electricity, which includes efficiency measures within the organization.

The program requires buildings belonging to PLN offices and employees to cut electricity consumption by 20 percent, or risk salary cuts.

"After PLN, we plan to apply this as well to other government offices," PLN operation director for Java, Madura and Bali Murtaqi Syamsuddin said.

With most of PLN's power generators dependent on fuel, a cut in power consumption equates to a reduction in fuel usage.

However, for this year's first quarter, the company posted a 6 percent increase in fuel usage compared to its target.

PLN's full-year fuel consumption has been set at 9.1 million kilo liters (kl), meaning that in each quarter the company would use 2.25 million kl. However, the company consumed 2.38 million kl in the first quarter.

Under the 2008 state budget, the electricity subsidy has been set at Rp 60.2 trillion (around U$6.5 billion).

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.