Customers to pay fee for routine electrical inspection
Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta
Households in the Greater Jakarta area will have to pay a fee of Rp 40,000 to Rp 60,000 (about US$6.65), starting next month, for a routine check on their domestic electrical supply to help maintain safety, an official said.
"Incorrect installation of electrical facilities can cause accidents, including fire. A routine check on the facility can protect customers," Johnny Simandjuntak, operational director at the Directorate General of Electricity said on Monday.
The government has appointed an independent National Committee for Safety of Electrical Installation (Konsuil) to carry out an inspection of electricity facilities, mainly for household customers, Johnny said.
Formed in March 2003, Konsuil is responsible for checking the electricity installation of low-voltage customers, which are mainly households.
Konsuil's members include state-owned power firm PT PLN, the Indonesian Association of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors (AKLI), the Communications Forum of the Electrical Equipment Industry (FKIPTL) and the Consultative Committee of Indonesian Electricity Consumers.
Tunggono, the head of Konsuil, said an inspection fee would be charged to prospective customers when they applied to PLN for an electricity connection.
"The inspection will determine whether the electrical supply has been properly installed and is safe. The facility must be certified by Konsuil before PLN will connect electricity to customers' houses," Tunggono said.
The fee applied will be determined by the voltage used.
The minimum charge is Rp 40,000 for minimum electricity voltage of 450 volt-amperes (VA). The highest inspection fee is Rp 60,000 for customers who use electricity at 2,200 VA.
Customers will pay a one-off inspection fee, valid for 10 years. After 10 years, customers are urged to report to Konsuil for another inspection.
Existing customers, particularly those whose electricity facility has been in operation for 10 years or more, are urged to report to Konsuil.
Tunggono said the inspection of electricity supply installations will be available only in Java and Bali as it does not yet have enough staff. At present Konsuil has only 300 inspectors.
Konsuil plans to carry out 420 inspections within Greater Jakarta this year. East Java and Bali will follow in the coming months while West Java started inspections in April.
Electrical malfunctions top the list of fire incidents. In Jakarta, 397 of 869 of fire incidents in 2002 were caused by electrical malfunctions such as plugging too many electronic appliances into one socket, and worn wiring.
Furthermore, Johnny said, the government had appointed several companies to check the electricity supply installations of industrial and business customers.
The appointed companies are PT Depriwangga, PT Indospec Asia, PT Koneba, the service and certification unit of PT PLN, PT Sucofindo, and PT Findo Daya Inspector.
However, the government has yet to set fees for facility inspection for business and industrial customers.
Inspection fees:
Capacity Fee (VA)
450 Rp 40,000 900 Rp 45,000 1,300 Rp 50,000 2,200 Rp 60,000
Source: Konsuil