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Electricity use expected to drop 30 percent during holiday
State-owned electricity company PLN projects a 30 to 35 percent decrease in electricity consumption during the fasting month and the ensuing Idul Fitri holiday due to less activities both in households and industries.
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Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahar (second left) talks to PLN business director for Central Java Amir Rosidin (right) during a visit to the Gandul Load Control Center in Depok, West Java, on Thursday. (ESDM Ministry/ESDM Ministry)
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tate-owned electricity company PLN projects a 30 to 35 percent decrease in electricity consumption during the end of the fasting month and the ensuing Idul Fitri holiday due to less activities both in households and industries.
PLN business director for Central Java Amir Rosidin estimated low electricity consumption over a two-week period from late May to June 9, or five days after Idul Fitri.
“It will start on May 29 as people prepare to celebrate the holiday, and it will hit the lowest consumption on June 5, before gradually returning to normal on June 9,” he said on Thursday after inspecting the Gandul Load Control Center in Depok, West Java.
PLN estimates that peak consumption in the Java-Bali power grid during the holiday period will be 17,179 megawatts, or 37 percent below the normal rate of 27,817 MW.
“It could drop to 12,100 MW in the morning when people conduct Idul Fitri prayers as they will turn off their home’s electricity,” he said.
In Sumatra, Amir said, normal peak consumption was 2,100 MW and during the holiday season it would be only around 1,470 MW.
PLN vowed to ensure stable supply during the holiday period. “Even though the electricity demand is lower than usual, the system’s reliability will be maintained,” said PLN business director for West Java Haryanto W.S.
To do so, the company would inspect each power plant, strengthen the transmission and distribution system, temporarily halt maintenance work for installations, transmission equipment and substations and forecast the peak demand. (bbn)
