Legal expert: PLN must compensate for Sumatra blackout

A massive power outage lasting over 24 hours across several regions in Sumatra and Aceh on 22 May 2026 has caused significant losses for millions of PLN customers. Aceh-based legal expert Rahmat Hidayat states that PT PLN (Persero) must compensate the public for the incident.

“The total blackout in Aceh over recent days has paralysed various customer activities. Not only households, but public services, economic activities, MSMEs, access to clean water, and communication networks have been disrupted,” Rahmat Hidayat said.

He emphasised that electricity is now a fundamental necessity supporting household activities, work, worship, healthcare, and education. Therefore, according to Rahmat, PLN has a legal obligation to compensate customers affected by service disruptions.

Rahmat explained that the blackout contravenes Article 4 of Law No. 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection, which states that consumers have the right to comfort, safety, and security when using goods or services.

“The consumers’ rights align with the provisions of Article 29(1)(a) and (b) of Law No. 30 of 2009 on Electricity, which clearly states that consumers are entitled to good service and continuous electricity supply of good quality and reliability,” he added.

Furthermore, Rahmat referenced Article 6 in conjunction with Article 6A of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 18 of 2019 on Service Quality Standards and Electricity Distribution Costs by PLN. The regulation mandates PLN to provide compensation if poor service quality causes prolonged disruptions and customer losses.

The power outage affecting Aceh, North Sumatra, Jambi, West Sumatra, and Riau was previously attributed to a fault in the 275-kilovolt Extra High Voltage transmission line between Muara Bungo and Sungai Rumbai in Jambi due to bad weather, according to PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo.

However, Rahmat suspects the weather was merely cited as a justification for PLN to avoid compensation liability. He cited data from Jambi BMKG on 22 May 2026 stating that weather conditions in the Muara Bungo-Sungai Rumbai area were only partly cloudy to light rain.