PLN promises no blackouts during Dec. holidays
PLN promises no blackouts during Dec. holidays
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Many residents in Jakarta and Tangerang may experience power
outages, not only from a shortfall in the power supply from state
electricity company PT PLN, but also because of maintenance work
and service disruptions.
The Jakarta and Tangerang distribution unit of PT PLN,
however, has promised to do its best to prevent any outages from
occurring during the Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year holidays.
"We will not do any network maintenance or expansion work
around Idul Fitri, from Dec. 4 until Dec. 10, or Christmas and
New Year's, from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1," the spokesman for the
Jakarta Tangerang distribution unit, Riyo Supriyanto, told The
Jakarta Post on Thursday.
"But we cannot do anything if there are any problems in the
generating or transmission networks. All we can do is keep the
distribution lines ready."
Riyo said that there were some 2.795 million subscribers with
a combined installed capacity of 9,907 megawatts in Jakarta and
Tangerang. The registered peak load is 3,500 megawatts.
He also said that the distribution unit had to regularly
maintain its 10,840 substations in order for them to stay
reliable.
"The substations receive a load of some 80 percent of their
capacity so we have to regularly maintain them.
"Maintenance is also important as most of our distribution
networks are old. Some are 20 years old," said Riyo.
The distribution unit conducts daily maintenance work in
Jakarta and Tangerang between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to keep the
distribution of electricity stable.
"We are doing our best to complete maintenance as soon as
possible, but we cannot guarantee that we will finish it in the
afternoon if serious problems are present.
"In most cases, we can carry out maintenance work without
turning off the electricity," said Riyo.
Customers can phone 123 to request information on the location
of power outages, he added.
PLN plans to build a new 600-megawatt power plant in North
Jakarta to relieve a shortfall of power in the Java-Bali grid.
Meanwhile, a resident of Cikokol subdistrict in South Jakarta
complained that there was no power in his area from 2 a.m. to 5
p.m. "Until now, we don't know what really happened as there was
no information from PLN."
Separately, Sudaryatmo of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation
(YLKI) told the Post that PLN should notify subscribers of any
power disruptions.
"PLN should announce in advance which areas are going to be
affected by maintenance work so that residents can be prepared.
"To be fair, PLN should adjust its rates for different areas
in regard to service," he said.
Sudaryatmo said that certain upscale residential areas were
guaranteed an uninterrupted power supply and should pay more than
those living on the outskirts of Jakarta.
Residents in areas that experience unannounced power outages
should be entitled to cheaper electricity rates, he said.
Sudaryatmo said that PLN should publicly announce if there are
any power outages and at the same time declare a specific
timeframe when the electricity supply would be restored.