No extra fees for PLN customers: YLKI

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) says that electricity customers should not be burdened with additional fees for the inspection of electrical facilities, if they have already paid a contractor to do the job.

Head of consumer advocacy at the foundation Tulus Abadi, said that many electricity contractors included the inspection of facilities as part of their service and overall fee.

"If the jobs of installation and inspection are to be made separate tasks, then customers should be billed separately for each," he said, on Friday.

Tulus said that customers pay a total fee of up to Rp 360,000 (some US$40) to contractors for the installation and inspection of the standard 450 volt-ampere (VA) power supply to their house.

"Customers should, therefore, refuse to pay any extra fee for inspection, unless it is deducted from the overall fee, or it is paid for by the contractors."

The government appointed on Monday the National Committee for the Safety of Electrical Installation (Konsuil) to inspect the houses of prospective customers of state-owned power firm PT PLN, and any existing ones who were interested in the service. It will charge customers between Rp 40,000 and Rp 60,000, based on the voltage they use.

Konsuil's members include PT PLN, the Indonesian Association of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors (AKLI), the Communications Forum of the Electrical Equipment Industry (FKIPTL) and the Consultative Committee of Indonesian Electricity Consumers.

Tulus also questioned Konsuil's appointment, as Ministerial Decree No. 437/K/30/MEM/2003 on electrical installation stipulates that its members must be independent and accredited by the National Accreditation Office (KAN).

"We object to Konsuil's monopolization of electrical installation," he said. "We also object if it is used as a commercial ploy, in the name of customer safety."

Tulus, therefore, suggested the government issue a clear regulation specifying guidelines for such committees and the fees they impose on customers.

He further said the government should strictly monitor the quality of materials and equipment used.

"The government should supervise contractors to ensure that they use materials and equipment that fulfill PLN's standards, and sanction any violators," he said.

Jakarta Fire Department data shows that faulty wiring caused between 45 percent and 52 percent of fires in the city in the last seven years.