May no more blackouts haunt us in 2010. Thank you.
This is the New Year's wish from electricity users and employees of state power company PT PLN.
The blackouts that have occurred in the city since September are not the first and most likely not the last.
Two powerhouses in Kembangan, West Jakarta, and Cawang Baru, East Jakarta, were razed by fire last September, causing a power supply imbalance in Greater Jakarta.
The Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) said the Cawang Baru exploded because a part broke due to long exposure to high temperature.
The BPPT investigation regarding the Cawang powerhouse, revealed that the city depended on a fragile electricity system and has an enormous power demand.
In Jakarta alone, peak consumption is 5,200 megawatts in the day and 4,600 megawatts at night.
The BPPT said Nov. 7 that all power transformers in the city had been using more than 90 percent of their capacity, making them susceptible to breakage.
Capacity usage had passed the PLN maintenance standard of 85 percent. It had also passed the BPPT safe load capacity of 60 percent.
PLN Java-Bali general manager of load control and distribution center Nur Pamudji said, "using more than 85 percent of transformer capacity can shorten the life of transformers."
So the question is: What can PLN do other than say sorry?
It is not the first time the company's production issues have caused scheduled blackouts.
In 2008, there was a long period of scheduled blackouts. PLN lacked fuel to operate its transformers, a situation that recurred from 2005.
A public service provider, PLN should take responsibility for the blackouts affecting millions of people. Finding a strategy to expand its capacity is one thing, but PLN should also create emergency measures.
Residents and businesses have paid for its service. This should not be taken for granted by the company.
The business community voiced anger since the blackout slowed down business activity.
The Jakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimated on Nov. 9 that businesses lose Rp 10 billion (US$1 million) each day due to blackouts.
The Central Statistics Agency said Nov. 13 that the blackouts were likely to slow the city's economic growth in the fourth quarter of this year.
It said this would affect economic growth for the full year.
Not only businessmen lost their temper with PLN.
Angered by electronic-device damage due to inconsistent power flow, five housewives reported PLN to Jakarta Police on Oct. 17.
The only compensation that PLN offers to customers is a 10 percent cut on customer subscriptions.
Businesses were not placated with the small compensation.
"PLN acts like someone who tries to stop a child crying by giving them a piece of candy," Tutum Rahanta said, Jakarta's Indonesian Retailers Association chief .
PLN said that scheduled blackouts would occur until the end of this year.
It said that the city had "sufficient" power supply for 2010.
Let us see if this is true.
If the supply does not improve, the company should consider changing its name from "Perusahaan Listrik Negara" (state electricity company) to "Perusahaan Lilin Negara" (state candle company), that is the joke circulating among the disappointed customers. (mrs)
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