Peak Homecoming Rush: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PLN Inspect SPKLU Operations to Serve EV Commuters

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATANG – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) together with PT PLN (Persero) directly reviewed the operations of electrical infrastructure in preparation for the peak of the Idul Fitri 1447 Hijriah homecoming flow. This includes Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure that supports public mobility during the homecoming journey to ensure it remains safe and comfortable. Deputy Minister of ESDM, Yuliot Tanjung, during a direct inspection at the Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station (SPKLU) in Rest Area KM 379A, Batang, Central Java, on Wednesday (18/3/2026), stated that the national electricity supply is in a safe condition, with sufficient power reserves to anticipate potential spikes in electricity consumption. “In preparation for the Idul Fitri 2026 electricity readiness, from the national power availability side (around) 52 gigawatts, and the peak load around 35 GW, while the reserve is still about 17 gigawatts or the condition is safe,” Yuliot said. Yuliot added that, in addition to maintaining the reliability of the electricity supply, PLN continues to strengthen support for homecomers using electric vehicles through the expansion of the SPKLU network and improvements in faster charging technology, making journeys more efficient. Separately, PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo stated that the company has prepared various anticipatory measures to maintain the reliability of electricity supply throughout Indonesia. This includes ensuring the readiness of electric vehicle charging infrastructure during the Ramadan and Idul Fitri 2026 readiness period. “Our preparations have been carried out well in advance, both from the generation, transmission, to distribution side. In line with government directives through the Ministry of ESDM, PLN is ready to maintain electricity supply, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure, to remain reliable and optimal for the public,” Darmawan said in a statement on Thursday (19/3/2026). PLN Retail and Commerce Director Adi Priyanto explained that the number of electric vehicles used by the public for Idul Fitri homecoming this year is projected to reach more than 23,000 units, an increase of around 60 percent compared to last year. “Along with the increasing adoption of EVs in Indonesia, PLN continues to accelerate the development of its charging infrastructure. So that the public does not need to worry about running out of power during the journey, especially during homecoming moments like this,” Adi said. To anticipate long charging queues, PLN together with partners has provided 4,769 SPKLU units spread across 3,097 locations throughout Indonesia, with a distance between SPKLUs of around 22 kilometres. Specifically on the main homecoming routes of Trans Sumatra, Java, and Bali, there are currently 1,681 SPKLU units spread across 994 points, both on toll and non-toll roads. This number has increased by around 70 percent compared to the previous Idul Fitri period. Not only that, PLN has provided 15 mobile SPKLU units on standby at strategic toll exit points to serve electric vehicles that need emergency charging during the journey. “In addition to infrastructure readiness, to support this homecoming period, we have also mobilised more than 5,000 personnel tasked with ensuring that SPKLUs function optimally and electric vehicle services run smoothly,” Adi continued. To enhance comfort for electric vehicle users, PLN has also optimised charging technology at several SPKLUs with high occupancy rates. The technology, previously using Standard Charging, has now been upgraded to Fast Charging and even Ultra Fast Charging to make the charging process faster. PLN has also introduced digital services through the Electric Vehicle Digital Services (EVDS) feature integrated into the PLN Mobile application to facilitate electric vehicle users. Through the Trip Planner feature, users can find the nearest SPKLU locations along their travel route, as well as the AntreEV feature that allows users to monitor charging queues in real time with a walk-in mechanism. In addition, PLN has improved transaction convenience through the EV-TAP payment service. Currently, there are 20 SPKLU units in various rest areas along the Trans Java homecoming route equipped with electronic card payment systems, making the charging process more flexible. “We provide various conveniences for customers, including if there are electric vehicle users who need assistance, they can simply report through the PLN Mobile application or the SPKLU service hotline via WhatsApp number 087-77-1112-123, which can be accessed 24 hours a day,” Adi concluded.