Bogor upset by many power cuts
BOGOR (JP): Many residents of Bogor mayoralty have complained to state electricity company PLN about the frequency of electricity blackouts which occur without prior warning in their area.
Ani, a resident of Sukadamai village in Tanah Sareal district, said yesterday that on average she had power cuts on 10 days in every month.
"I sometimes get several blackouts in a single day. They even happen when there has been no problem with the weather, like rain or strong wind. It's ever so annoying," she raged.
Similar complaints were aired by Aji Ashari, a resident of Cibanteng village in Ciampea district, and Among, an employee of a telecommunications shop on Jl. Baru in Cimanggu district.
Aji asked why PLN never gave any prior notice of the blackouts. "If the firm could give us some warning then we could prepare ourselves," he said.
Among said blackouts in the telecommunications shop frequently occurred when there were a large number of customers. "It invariably costs us a lot of money," Among said.
Most of the residents were of the opinion that PLN was not professionally run. Some even accused the company of deception. "The firm will not accept incomplete payments, even if only short by Rp 50, and it blacks out the area on an arbitrary basis," Euis, another resident, said.
Kilung, a spokesman for PLN's Bogor branch office, yesterday denied that his company was unprofessional. "We work 24 hours a day. You can check how we work," he said.
He acknowledged that blackouts frequently took place in Bogor, but said it was not intentional.
The power cuts, according to Kilung, were caused mainly by three natural causes -- strong wind, heavy rain and lightning.
"The movement of trees during strong gales can easily make electricity cables touch each other and cause a blackout. The problem can occur at any time, regardless of whether or not it is raining," he said.
Kilung said the problem was difficult for his company to handle because it was not possible to ask owners to fell the offending trees. They were often, he said, the owners' main source of income. "We do not have the funds to buy the trees ourselves," he added.
Bambang Sungkono, head of the distribution section at the office, said the blackouts were also caused by junk, especially kites, which get stuck in the transmission lines.
When Kite string draped across power lines gets wet it can cause short circuits and blackouts.
"To tell you the truth, PLN is having difficulty handling this problem. Moreover, adults and children alike love kites.
"We can remove old kites from electricity lines, but hours later new kites will have taken their place," he complained. (24/hhr)