City offices told to set example in energy-saving drive
City offices told to set example in energy-saving drive
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta administration issued an instruction to city offices
Thursday to set an example for the public in saving energy amid
fears of extensive blackouts due to electricity shortages.
"We require city offices -- down to subdistricts -- to turn
off all unnecessary lights and air-conditioners after 5 p.m.
There will be sanctions imposed on offices that ignore the
instruction," Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo announced to the
public at City Hall on Thursday.
He did not give any details about what sort of punishment
would be meted out for failure to obey orders.
State-owned electricity company PLN is asking each household
and office in the capital to switch off at least two lights
during peak hours from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. in order to prevent a
blackout.
"We're calling for public participation in the energy-saving
drive to stave off extensive blackouts across the capital, and we
have to start with our own offices," Fauzi said.
He said PLN had also asked the city administration to help
prepare for the shortage of power between 77 megawatt (MW) and
385 MW as a result of the construction work at the Muara Karang
and Tanjung Priok plants, which power the Java-Bali grid.
PLN said that the construction work that began on May 23 was
expected to last until June 6.
Fauzi said he expected offices in to private companies to also
participate and turn a few things off at peak hours.
He specifically addressed malls and shopping centers, which
consume a great amount of power for air-conditioners and lamps.
"They could reduce the power consumption by slightly raising
the thermostat of air-conditioners should they find it difficult
to abide by the call to switch off their air-conditioners," he
added.
Owners of industrial plants, offices, hotels and shopping and
entertainment centers have also been advised to have generators
on standby.
The administration said street lamps and lamps used for
outdoor billboard advertisements would not be turned on until
after 8 p.m. in the evening.
Each household has also been asked to voluntarily reduce their
power consumption by turning off just two bulbs, equal to 50
watts during peak hours.
The residents have been requested to use power-hungry
electrical appliances, like irons, washing machines and water
pumps in the morning to reduce demand in peak hours.
Most residents interviewed by The Jakarta Post on Thursday,
however, said that had done nothing different.
Worries of prolonged blackouts have prompted many residents to
purchase new emergency lamps although only a few intermittent
blackouts in a few neighborhoods have taken place this week.
"I bought two rechargeable emergency lamps ... right after the
announcement of possible blackouts. The lamps are much safer than
candles or kerosene lights, which could cause fires," said
Hermala, a resident of Cililitan, East Jakarta.