'PLN never apologizes for all the blackouts'
'PLN never apologizes for all the blackouts'
The possibility of blackouts up until June 6, the time the state
electricity company PLN says it expects to finish upgrade
projects at its two power plants in Jakarta, has started to
bother residents. Consumer groups and lawyers have even
threatened to sue the company. The Jakarta Post asked residents
about their thoughts on the call to reduce electricity use to
avoid widespread blackouts.
Ambri Rahayu, 25, works with an event promoter. She lives in
Tangerang:
I support the campaign to save energy, but I don't like the
way PLN runs its business.
Every time they have problem, they ask us to understand and
help them. However, if we, the customers, have problems, they
ignore us.
For example, if PLN makes a mistake in reading our meter, they
don't correct the mistake right away but still charge us based on
the erroneous meter reading. They never apologize to the public
for their poor service.
PLN has also allowed people to steal electricity from them,
through their own personnel. How can they tell us to switch off
our electricity, while every day, PLN employees keep on helping
people to steal electricity?
I will be efficient in using electricity, but it's because I
think electricity should be saved because it's a vital source of
energy, not because of the PLN call.
Maryati,40, is a shopkeeper in Tebet, South Jakarta. She lives
with her family in a rented house nearby:
Of course, electricity should be saved. But for poor people
like us, we have been economizing on electricity ever since we
were born. We never use more than 40 watt lamps.
The rich should be the ones saving energy as everything they
do in their houses, they do it with the help of electricity. They
should try to switch off their garden lights and the lamps in
their garages.
The campaign is good, but I don't know whether people will
heed it. As far as I know, people around here are using pretty
much the same amount of electricity as they always do.
--The Jakarta Post