Bobby Nasution Demands Compensation Following Power Outages
North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has reprimanded PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) to take responsibility for the losses suffered by the community. In addition to highlighting service disruptions, he assessed that PLN’s communication to customers regarding blackout schedules and affected areas has been inadequate, preventing citizens from making necessary preparations.
“The community is suffering losses due to these rolling blackouts, especially small entrepreneurs. The problem is we do not know how the blackouts are proceeding. The public is not clearly informed, and this happens repeatedly every day,” said Bobby during a visit to the PLN North Sumatra Load Dispatch Unit office in Medan on Monday, 8 June 2026.
Following a total blackout in the North Sumatra region on 22 May 2026, PLN has implemented rolling blackouts over the past week. Residents have complained that many activities and services have been paralysed, with some areas also experiencing water supply disruptions. While Bobby acknowledged the emergency caused by extreme weather damaging dozens of transmission towers, he insisted that such situations must be accompanied by transparent and coordinated information sharing with local governments and the public.
Consequently, Bobby requested that PLN provide compensation to all affected customers in North Sumatra. He noted that compensation does not necessarily have to be in cash, but could take the form of electricity bill reductions or discounts on prepaid tokens. “The amount of compensation is for PLN to determine, but clearly, there must be compensation. It is ironic that even a slight delay in payment results in immediate sanctions such as disconnection or meter removal,” he added.
General Manager of PLN North Sumatra Distribution Unit, Mundakhir Salman, apologised to the Governor and the public for the service disruptions. He stated that efforts are underway to accelerate the repair of 12 damaged Extra High Voltage (SUTET) towers. Regarding compensation, Mundakhir noted that he would forward the Governor’s request to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), as the authority to determine compensation lies with the central government. He expects repairs to be completed within the next two to three days.
The Medan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Medan) has also demanded that PLN compensate affected citizens, alleging that the blackouts are a result of poor electricity governance and infrastructure maintenance. “We suspect PLN has been negligent. If governance and infrastructure were managed properly, the blackout would not have occurred,” said LBH Medan Director Irvan Saputra.
Irvan argued that under Consumer Protection Law No. 8 of 1999, customers are entitled to comfort, security, and safety in consuming goods or services. He further cited the Electricity Law and Ministry of ESDM Regulations, which mandate PLN to provide compensation for poor service quality that leads to prolonged disruptions and losses. He noted that approximately 8.3 million out of 13.1 million customers in the Sumatra region have been affected, severely impacting MSMEs and economic activity.