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.