Industry Minister lauds PLN plan to cut evening rates

Industry Minister MS Hidayat on Monday said he welcomed state-owned electricity firm PLN's plan to cut evening electricity rates for industries.

"It would be excellent for PLN to have the good will to help industries, because those companies are struggling to increase their competitiveness," Hidayat said in Jakarta.

With the discounts, these companies could in turn increase overtime allowances for workers working in the evenings, he said.

On Sunday, PLN president director Dahlan Iskan had announced the firm's plan to reduce electricity rates, for use between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., by 20 percent from Rp 730 (7 US cents) per kilowatt hour to Rp 550 per Kwh.

Dahlan said the plan would promote efficiency and encourage industrial companies to shift their working hours from day to night. (lnd)