City told to reduce power usage

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

To save energy amid the national fuel shortage, Sutiyoso's administration has set as policy the reduction of power usage in city and government offices, as well as for street lights, advertising billboards and fountains.

"There will be efficiency in the use of air-conditioners, elevators and lamps. Certainly, lighting projects, like at the National Monument park and other locations will be affected by the energy-saving programs," Sutiyoso said at City Hall on Friday afternoon.

He promised to directly monitor the energy-saving drive, but did not mention sanctions for violators.

"We also call on (the occupants of) commercial buildings belonging to private companies to participate in the drive," he said, adding that his administration was preparing detailed guidelines for the implementation of the policy.

According to Sutiyoso, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has come up with a series of energy-saving projects.

"They include the extension and expansion of the three-in-one traffic policy to reduce the use of private cars. However, I have opposed the idea since we are yet to provide reliable public transportation vehicles," the governor said.

Other propositions include higher parking fees, vehicular taxes, banning old cars from the roads and the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel.

"We have to study the proposed schemes carefully. We expect to come up with viable schemes on Sunday," he said.

All governors are expected to discuss the issue after attending the wedding reception of First Lt. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the firstborn son of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and television host Annisa Larasati Pohan on Saturday night at the Bogor palace.