Lampung consumers' body to sue PLN

Lampung consumers' body to sue PLN

The Jakarta Post, Oyos Saroso HN, Bandar Lampung

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) in Lampung is
expected to file a class action lawsuit against state-owned
electricity company PT PLN following complaints from hundreds of
electricity consumers over its poor services.

Lampung's YLKI chairman Subadrayani said that hundreds of
local residents had complained about PLN's frequent failures that
had damaged electronic goods and disrupted businesses.

"We're still calculating the total losses caused by the
frequent power outages. We, therefore, could not yet say how much
compensation we'll be seeking from PLN with the class action," he
said here over the weekend.

But he said that the outages had caused serious losses in
Lampung and the surrounding provinces, namely Bengkulu, Jambi and
South Sulawesi.

"We've experienced power failures almost everyday. Without any
notice from PLN, the failures just happened abruptly every time.
Not only (lasting for) half an hour. They happened for between
four to six hours," said Lina, a resident of Gulak-Galik
subdistrict of Bandar Lampung.

Adibah, 43, a resident of Beringin Raya subdistrict in Bandar
Lampung, said that many of his electronic goods had been damaged
due to the abrupt and frequent power outages.

"Televisions, magic jars, refrigerators, have been out of
order because of the abrupt electricity failure that happens very
often. Previously, we've experienced such an outage but we only
lose one or two lightbulbs. But now, we've lost many electronic
goods," Adibah said.

Imron, a resident of Panengahan subdistrict of Bandar Lampung,
noted that the broken electronic goods were apparently caused by
the abrupt power cuts.

Tri Purmuladi, a silk-screening and printing owner in Beringin
Raya Housing Complex in Bandar Lampung, said that the outages had
disrupted his business.

"We rely on the electricity in doing this business. Can you
imagine if we have to cancel our orders due to the outages?" he
noted.

Subadrayani noted that other reasons to file the class action
was that the state electricity firm did not try to improve its
services, while it raised prices for its services.

The losses were actually bigger than that for the province, as
many investors had canceled their big projects due to the poor
electricity services. One of them was Bakrie Brothers which
canceled the development of its steel industry in Lampung
province several years ago.

The power crisis started in 1991, forcing PLN to rotate the
power outages among the subdistricts or districts in the
province.

Damage caused to the Way Besai Hydro-power plant recently,
which produces 90 Megawatt electricity for the province, had
worsened the crisis.

The Hydro-power plant was damaged by floods and landslides on
Jan. 23 and it could take up to eight months to fix.

PLN's spokesman in Tanjung Karang, Arif Muryoto, said that his
company was still pursuing efforts to improve its services.

"We'll soon operate Batu Tegi Hydropower plant that can
produce 28 MW in July, relocate the Gas Power Plant of GE
Indonesia Power to Simpang Tiga Indyaralaya that can generate 50
MW electricity and develop the inter-connection of West Sumatra,
South Sumatra and Lampung grid in August," said Arif.