Bogor upset by many power cuts<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): Many residents of Bogor mayoralty have complained
\nto state electricity company PLN about the frequency of
\nelectricity blackouts which occur without prior warning in their
\narea.<\/p>\n
Ani, a resident of Sukadamai village in Tanah Sareal district,
\nsaid yesterday that on average she had power cuts on 10 days in
\nevery month.<\/p>\n
"I sometimes get several blackouts in a single day. They even
\nhappen when there has been no problem with the weather, like rain
\nor strong wind. It's ever so annoying," she raged.<\/p>\n
Similar complaints were aired by Aji Ashari, a resident of
\nCibanteng village in Ciampea district, and Among, an employee of
\na telecommunications shop on Jl. Baru in Cimanggu district.<\/p>\n
Aji asked why PLN never gave any prior notice of the
\nblackouts. "If the firm could give us some warning then we could
\nprepare ourselves," he said.<\/p>\n
Among said blackouts in the telecommunications shop frequently
\noccurred when there were a large number of customers. "It
\ninvariably costs us a lot of money," Among said.<\/p>\n
Most of the residents were of the opinion that PLN was not
\nprofessionally run. Some even accused the company of deception.
\n"The firm will not accept incomplete payments, even if only short
\nby Rp 50, and it blacks out the area on an arbitrary basis,"
\nEuis, another resident, said.<\/p>\n
Kilung, a spokesman for PLN's Bogor branch office, yesterday
\ndenied that his company was unprofessional. "We work 24 hours a
\nday. You can check how we work," he said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that blackouts frequently took place in Bogor,
\nbut said it was not intentional.<\/p>\n
The power cuts, according to Kilung, were caused mainly by
\nthree natural causes -- strong wind, heavy rain and lightning.<\/p>\n
"The movement of trees during strong gales can easily make
\nelectricity cables touch each other and cause a blackout. The
\nproblem can occur at any time, regardless of whether or not it is
\nraining," he said.<\/p>\n
Kilung said the problem was difficult for his company to
\nhandle because it was not possible to ask owners to fell the
\noffending trees. They were often, he said, the owners' main
\nsource of income. "We do not have the funds to buy the trees
\nourselves," he added.<\/p>\n
Bambang Sungkono, head of the distribution section at the
\noffice, said the blackouts were also caused by junk, especially
\nkites, which get stuck in the transmission lines.<\/p>\n
When Kite string draped across power lines gets wet it can
\ncause short circuits and blackouts.<\/p>\n
"To tell you the truth, PLN is having difficulty handling this
\nproblem. Moreover, adults and children alike love kites.<\/p>\n
"We can remove old kites from electricity lines, but hours
\nlater new kites will have taken their place," he complained.
\n(24\/hhr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bogor-upset-by-many-power-cuts-1447893297",
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