Electricity firm to reduce blackout time
Electricity firm to reduce blackout time
JAKARTA (JP): The State Electricity Company, PLN, will reduce
Jakarta's average blackout time from six hours to four hours per
annum. Blackout time in the township of Tangerang will also
decrease.
PLN Jakarta branch office deputy executive Lili Tjarli Tahlan,
whose office is also responsible for Tangerang, said the PLN
would begin repairing old and damaged circuit cables late this
year, Antara reported yesterday.
"The effort is a response to the ongoing complaints from PLN's
customers about the frequent blackouts on their properties," said
Lili.
Speaking at a meeting with customers on how to improve PLN's
services, Lili said the counting of the average blackout hours
was done using internationally-standard equipment called SAIDI,
or System Average Interruption Duration Index.
He said PLN had to cause blackouts because the company was
trying to preserve middle-voltage and high-voltage circuit
cables.
"There are no more electricity blackouts because of a shortage
in current supply," Lili said.
The circuit problem is the main factor causing blackouts in
the capital and Tangerang.
"The other factor is damaged fuses at the electricity
installations in the customers' properties," said Lili.
He said Jakarta's and Tangerang's average blackout time was
higher than in big overseas cities.
Japan
Several cities in Japan, for instance, have an average
blackout time of 0.1 minutes per customer per annum.
Japan achieved this by using sophisticated circuit installment
technology, said Lili.
"Actually, the blackout time in Jakarta and Tangerang area
could be further reduced if the percentage of losses caused by
the circuit system was not as big as now," said Lili.
Blackouts caused by circuits make up 11 percent of blackout
time, Lili said without giving a further breakdown.
Lili said new, sophisticated electrical equipment could help
reduce Jakarta's and Tangerang's blackout time.
PLN estimates its number of customers will rise to 2.3 million
by the end of this year. He did not say how many customers the
company how had. (bsr)