Bogor upset by many power cuts

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)