PLN and BPS collaborate to bolster accuracy of electricity statistics

This cooperation covers field verification of customer data and electricity information to ensure validity, coherence, and reliability of national data. ‘Technical readiness is important, including a clear SOP to mitigate risks of field verification and data collection processes so they can run optimally and are not misused,’ said Havidh Nazif, Director of Construction of Power Supply Development, Directorate General of Electricity, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in Surabaya, on Wednesday. According to Havidh, this synergy can produce more detailed and accurate household customer data, covering over 87 million customers, making it a key parameter in the Data Tunggal Sosial dan Ekonomi Nasional (DTSEN). The alignment of all parties’ perspectives is crucial so that the verification process can run in a conducive and effective manner, he continued. Director of Retail and Consumer PT PLN (Persero) Adi Priyanto emphasised PLN’s commitment as the government policy implementer, especially in electricity subsidy distribution to be well targeted. He explained PLN has handed over data of 37 million customers from the Data Terpadu Kesejahteraan Sosial (DTKS) survey to BPS, which is hoped to be refined further through updates to DTSEN. The field verification program will be conducted from March to August 2026 with PLN involvement, particularly meter readers or billmen who will receive direct training from BPS. In its implementation, officers will update customer information by collecting several important data elements. These elements include the National Identification Number (NIK), telephone number, home geotag, front photo of the house, building ownership status, and the number of family members living in the household. General Manager PLN UID East Java Ahmad Mustaqir said he would ensure full commitment to supporting the field verification activities as part of updating customer data integrated with DTSEN. Secretary General of BPS Zulkipli added that DTSEN is now being used as a basis for consolidating ministry and agency data based on NIK. In its latest version, DTSEN will include monthly household electricity consumption indicators as a new variable to complement the 39 variables already in place. Through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and PKS, PLN and BPS are optimistic to present credible, transparent, and sustainable electricity statistics data while strengthening the foundation for data-driven and integrated national development policy formulation.