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.