City owes PLN Rp 1.8b in bills

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration owes state-owned electricity company PLN about Rp 1.85 billion in unpaid electricity bills up to February this year, a senior official of PLN's Gambir office said on Tuesday.

The executive, who asked for anonymity, told reporters that Governor Sutiyoso's administration had to settle its account soon or PLN would take drastic measures.

"Once last year, PLN refused to hand over customers' one-month taxes, worth some Rp 7 billion, to the city administration," he said.

"We only paid it later after the administration started paying off its debt. We won't hesitate to do it again if the administration does not pay its debt soon this time," the PLN executive said.

He, however, refused to elaborate, saying: "I cannot give you details... otherwise I will face trouble."

No city officials could be reached on Tuesday for comment. (ylt)