JP/5/PLN2

JP/5/PLN2

Maluku government has Rp 60b overdue power bill

M. Azis Tunny
The Jakarta Post/Ambon

Twenty-seven schools in Ambon were left in the dark recently
after state electricity company PLN cut off their power over
unpaid bills, and now it has emerged that the Maluku provincial
administration may find itself in the same situation.

Claiming not to have the money to pay the estimated Rp 60
billion (US$6.6 million) it owes PLN, the Maluku administration
has sent a letter to the minister of mines and energy in Jakarta
requesting debt relief.

The secretary to the Maluku administration, Said Assagaf, said
his office had discussed the matter during a recent gubernatorial
working meeting with the financial minister, home affairs
minister and the head of the National Development Planning Board.

At the meeting, the Maluku administration said it was unable
to settle the bills because of limited funds. It also claimed the
overdue bills were the result of electricity usage by refugees
who have occupied public and government buildings since sectarian
violence in the area broke out in 1999.

"The refugee problem is not only the responsibility of the
local administration but also of the central government.
Electricity use has increased because of the refugees," Said told
The Jakarta Post.

He said his office had also conveyed the matter to the finance
minister, requesting the overdue bills be erased.

In response, the National Development Planning Board suggested
the Maluku administration make a request for funds from Special
Presidential Instruction Fund No. 6/2003 on post-conflict
rehabilitation in Maluku and North Maluku.

The head of the Ambon branch of the PLN, Suhud Setiabudi,
confirmed the administration owed about Rp 60 billion. "Our
ability to provide services and distribute power to customers has
been interrupted due to this matter."

He also said the branch was suffering a deficit of more than
Rp 9 billion a month because customers were paying far less than
it cost to generate and distribute power.

"We hope customers prepare power generators so their
activities are not interrupted during power stoppages. We also
hope customers settle their bills as soon as possible," said
Suhud.

Power was cut to 27 schools in Ambon that owed a total of Rp
375.4 million ($41,711) in unpaid electric bills dating back
several years.