'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