City told to reduce power usage

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.