PLN says billing system change not a rate hike<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Officials of state-owned electricity company PT
\nPLN denied on Friday imposing a rate hike for households, arguing
\nthe introduction of a new billing system did not affect the
\noverall billing system.<\/p>\n
"We didn't hike the rate for groups of customers with 450
\nwatts and 900 watts. We just changed the display of rate
\ncomponents in the invoice," PLN's Greater Jakarta and Tangerang
\noffice spokesman Riyo Supriyanto told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
"Previously, we printed the basic rate and its three-monthly
\n15.29-percent hike in two separate columns. We then put the
\nfigures in one column since April. The total amount is just the
\nsame."<\/p>\n
"The 1998 basic electricity rate also displayed a three-
\nmonthly hike of 15.29 percent," public relations officer Tito
\nS.P. said. "Meanwhile, the 2000 rate just put the overall hiked
\nfigure in the invoice."<\/p>\n
The men were commenting on complaints by customers concerning
\ntheir electricity bills, which they believed were hiked by the
\ncompany with no notice.<\/p>\n
The basic rate for a customer in the 900 watt group was set at
\nRp 4,020 (50 U.S. cents) in the 1998 basic rate, while it's now
\nset at Rp 4,630 in the 2000 basic tariff.<\/p>\n
"If we multiply Rp 4,020 by 15.29 percent, we'll get Rp
\n4,630," said Tito.<\/p>\n
He said there would not be a significant change in the bill if
\ncustomers' consumption remained at regular levels.<\/p>\n
The power company implements a progressive billing system,
\ndividing the power usage into two blocks. The first block charges
\ncheaper rates for a particular power limit according to the
\nhousehold group.<\/p>\n
When a customer exceeds the limit stipulated in the first
\nblock, he is charged an additional rate on the second block rate
\nwhich is higher.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, household with 1,300 watts to 2,200 watts have a
\nthird block rate.<\/p>\n
This group, for example, has a limit of 20 kilowatthour (kWh)
\nfor its first block of Rp 205\/kWh, a limit of between 20 kWh to
\n60 kWh in its second block of Rp 210\/kWh and more than 60 kWh in
\nits third block of Rp 215\/kWh.<\/p>\n
In order to avoid customer inconvenience in the future, Riyo
\nsaid the branch would suggest a new invoice design to the
\ncompany's management.<\/p>\n
"Our current invoice forms do not give clear information as
\nthey are too complicated to understand," he said.<\/p>\n
"We'll propose a new design resembling the telephone bill
\nwhich gives clear information instantly. The decision, however,
\nwill rest with the head office."<\/p>\n
Asked whether it would be expensive to print new bills, Tito
\nsaid it was not a big problem.<\/p>\n
"It's just a matter of a technicality. Our concern is our best
\nservice to the customers," he said.<\/p>\n
"On the other hand, we also want customers to be more careful
\nin reading the kWh meters. They must also control the meter
\nreaders."<\/p>\n
Riyo said several customers complained of skyrocketing bills
\ndue to the inaccuracy of meter reading done by contracted meter
\nreaders.<\/p>\n
"Sometimes, the meter readers booked smaller power consumption
\nthan the customers had actually consumed. We have given training
\nto the readers to increase their accuracy," he said.<\/p>\n
"We also provide facilities to customers to pay mounting bills
\nthrough installments. It's part of our service to customers." He
\nadded customers were expected to settle the bills because they
\nused the service. (09\/nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pln-says-billing-system-change-not-a-rate-hike-1447893297",
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