Konsuil should be responsible for fires: PLN<\/p>\n
Leony Aurora, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State-owned power firm PT PLN says that the National Committee
\nfor Safety of Electrical Installation (Konsuil) should be held
\nresponsible for fires caused by short circuits within a guarantee
\nperiod once it begins inspecting new houses.<\/p>\n
Deputy spokesman of the firm's Jakarta and Tangerang chapter,
\nArio Subijoko, said on Thursday that currently, an electricity
\ncontractor could be sued for damages, resulting from an
\nelectrical malfunction, up to five years after the installation.
\nThe claim can only be made if customers do not make changes to
\nthe original installation.<\/p>\n
\"People often build extensions on their houses and install the
\nwiring themselves,\" said Subijoko.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Fire Department data shows that faulty wiring caused
\nbetween 45 percent and 52 percent of fires in the city in the
\nlast seven years.<\/p>\n
Konsuil has been appointed by the government to inspect
\nbuildings using between 450 volt-ampere (VA) and 2,200 VA.<\/p>\n
Starting next month, it will inspect houses of prospective PLN
\ncustomers in Greater Jakarta for a fee of between Rp 40,000
\n(US$4.37) and Rp 60,000. Without certification from Konsuil,
\nwhich is valid for 10 years, electricity will not be connected to
\nthe houses.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has questioned the
\nauthority of Konsuil and whether it was needed, as electricity
\ncontractors were certified by PLN.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Association of Electrical and Mechanical
\nContractors (AKLI) said that it would still take responsibility
\nfor damages due to electrical malfunction, despite inspections
\nfrom Konsuil.<\/p>\n
\"That way, the public will be assured (of the quality of the
\nwork),\" said Adang Surachman, head of AKLI's regional board of
\ndirectors for Jakarta and Tangerang.<\/p>\n
AKLI took over the task of members' certification from the
\ngovernment and PLN in 2002.<\/p>\n
\"So far, we have only exchanged government certificates with
\nours and have not awarded new ones,\" said Adang. The organization
\nplans to conduct examinations for uncertified members at the end
\nof this year, he added.<\/p>\n
There are 470 contractors certified by PLN to install
\nelectricity in Jakarta and Tangerang. They are classified into
\nfour classes based on the magnitude of work they can perform.<\/p>\n
A-classified contractors can only do house wiring of under 23
\nkilo VA (kVA), while those in class B can do installations up to
\n99 kVA. Class C members are certified to do big installations of
\nunder 500 kVA. The highest class, D, can install any kind of
\nelectrical facilities, from houses to transmission and power
\nstations.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/konsuil-should-be-responsible-for-fires-pln-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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