Mechanism for PLN Blackout Compensation Explained

The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) has confirmed that customers of state electricity company PT PLN (Persero) affected by large-scale blackouts are entitled to compensation. However, the compensation will not be provided in the form of cash, but through a mechanism integrated into the customer’s electricity payment system. The assurance was given after the Ministry requested an explanation from PLN regarding the company’s accountability to consumers affected by the disruption of electricity supply. The government stated that supervision is carried out to ensure consumer rights are fulfilled in accordance with applicable regulations. Director of Consumer Empowerment at the Ministry of Trade, Immanuel Tarigan Sibero, explained that the compensation will be processed through PLN’s transaction system. Through this mechanism, customers will be able to see the return value on their payment receipt or when topping up their electricity tokens. The spotlight on compensation comes after recent large-scale blackouts in various regions. Disruptions to the transmission network in Sumatra, technical issues in Kalimantan’s electricity system, and load management in parts of Java had caused interruptions to the public’s electricity supply.