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)