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Government receives complaints after withdrawing electricity subsidy
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Workers from PLN check the meter of a non-subsidized 900 VA customer in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
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fter the government decided to drastically slash the number of subsidized consumers of 900 volt ampere (VA) electricity at the beginning of the year, it has received six reports from customers who feel undeserving of the subsidies.
The six people are from 4.1 million customers who enjoy government subsidies for 900 VA electricity from state-owned electricity company PLN.
After the first price hike in January, the government received 2,571 complaints by the end of February. Most of the complaints revolved around the withdrawal of the subsidy.
To begin with, 22.8 million people received subsidies for 900 VA from PLN.
Jarman, the electricity director general with the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said the ministry was surprised by the reports.
“Just imagine, someone who is a subsidized electricity consumer actually complaining and saying: ‘I’m rich, why is my electricity still subsidized?’ It seems that a culture of shame is now growing so that people are more aware and asking not to be subsidized,” he said on Friday.
(Read also: No complaints since ending electricity subsidies for some users: Ministry)
Starting on Wednesday, electricity rates will change after further subsidies are withdrawn. As an example, a customer who received a Rp 74,740 (US$5.59) electricity bill in December saw a Rp 98,000 bill in January and February. In March and April, customers will have to pay Rp 130,000, and starting in May they will have to pay Rp 185,794. (bbn)
