Low electricity tariff set for poor households<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Low-income households will still enjoy low
\nelectricity tariffs even after price increases expected next
\nmonth, an official said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Director General of Electricity and Energy Development in the
\nMinistry of Mines and Energy Endro Utomo Notodisuryo said poor
\nhouseholds would be allowed to apply for a special rate.<\/p>\n
He said under the price increase proposal sent to President
\nSoeharto, poor households could be treated as non-profit
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
Such organizations, including places of worship and schools,
\nunder the existing tariff regulation receive a special rate which
\nis much lower than those charged to companies and wealthier
\nhousesholds.<\/p>\n
Endro did not reveal the proposed new electricity tariff for
\nthis category of building, but said: \"They will still enjoy a
\nhuge subsidy from the government\".<\/p>\n
Buildings owned by social organizations get a maximum power
\nsupply of 220 volt-amperes (VA) or 200 watts for a fixed monthly
\npayment.<\/p>\n
\"The power supply is enough for a household to have several
\nlights, a 14-inch TV set, a 40-watt fridge-freezer and even a
\nsmall air conditioning unit,\" Endro explained.<\/p>\n
He said that under the current system, households were not
\nallowed to apply for the low tariff designed for the buildings of
\nsocial institutions.<\/p>\n
Instead, they have to apply for a minimum power supply of 450
\nVA or 400 watts.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry
\nGinandjar Kartasasmita said yesterday that the government would
\nincrease the price of fuel this month and electricity early next
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Endro said that under the proposed tariff increase, the
\ngovernment would still subsidize better-off people who use up to
\n2,200 VA or 2,000 watts.<\/p>\n
But he said the government would drastically decrease
\nsubsidies -- in other words significantly hike the bills -- for
\nwasteful users of electricity.<\/p>\n
\"Let's now start to use power efficiently to anticipate the
\nrise in electricity tariffs,\" Endro said, adding that staff of
\nthe state electricity company, PT PLN, are ready to inform the
\npublic on how to use electricity efficiently.<\/p>\n
PLN data says 90 percent of its 24.64 million customers have
\ntheir electricity supplied at between 420 VA and 2,200 VA.<\/p>\n
Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto and senior
\nofficials in charge of oil and electricity held a closed meeting
\nyesterday with several members of House Commission V for
\nindustry, mining and energy at the Mulia Hotel in Senayan, South
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Sources said the minister lobbied the commission to back the
\ngovernment's tariff increase plan but Kuntoro refused to confirm
\nthis.<\/p>\n
\"I just want to have lunch with new friends. I want to get to
\nknow them better,\" Kuntoro told The Jakarta Post on his way to
\none of the hotel's restaurants. (jsk)<\/p>",
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