PLN says billing system change not a rate hike
PLN says billing system change not a rate hike
JAKARTA (JP): Officials of state-owned electricity company PT
PLN denied on Friday imposing a rate hike for households, arguing
the introduction of a new billing system did not affect the
overall billing system.
"We didn't hike the rate for groups of customers with 450
watts and 900 watts. We just changed the display of rate
components in the invoice," PLN's Greater Jakarta and Tangerang
office spokesman Riyo Supriyanto told The Jakarta Post.
"Previously, we printed the basic rate and its three-monthly
15.29-percent hike in two separate columns. We then put the
figures in one column since April. The total amount is just the
same."
"The 1998 basic electricity rate also displayed a three-
monthly hike of 15.29 percent," public relations officer Tito
S.P. said. "Meanwhile, the 2000 rate just put the overall hiked
figure in the invoice."
The men were commenting on complaints by customers concerning
their electricity bills, which they believed were hiked by the
company with no notice.
The basic rate for a customer in the 900 watt group was set at
Rp 4,020 (50 U.S. cents) in the 1998 basic rate, while it's now
set at Rp 4,630 in the 2000 basic tariff.
"If we multiply Rp 4,020 by 15.29 percent, we'll get Rp
4,630," said Tito.
He said there would not be a significant change in the bill if
customers' consumption remained at regular levels.
The power company implements a progressive billing system,
dividing the power usage into two blocks. The first block charges
cheaper rates for a particular power limit according to the
household group.
When a customer exceeds the limit stipulated in the first
block, he is charged an additional rate on the second block rate
which is higher.
Meanwhile, household with 1,300 watts to 2,200 watts have a
third block rate.
This group, for example, has a limit of 20 kilowatthour (kWh)
for its first block of Rp 205/kWh, a limit of between 20 kWh to
60 kWh in its second block of Rp 210/kWh and more than 60 kWh in
its third block of Rp 215/kWh.
In order to avoid customer inconvenience in the future, Riyo
said the branch would suggest a new invoice design to the
company's management.
"Our current invoice forms do not give clear information as
they are too complicated to understand," he said.
"We'll propose a new design resembling the telephone bill
which gives clear information instantly. The decision, however,
will rest with the head office."
Asked whether it would be expensive to print new bills, Tito
said it was not a big problem.
"It's just a matter of a technicality. Our concern is our best
service to the customers," he said.
"On the other hand, we also want customers to be more careful
in reading the kWh meters. They must also control the meter
readers."
Riyo said several customers complained of skyrocketing bills
due to the inaccuracy of meter reading done by contracted meter
readers.
"Sometimes, the meter readers booked smaller power consumption
than the customers had actually consumed. We have given training
to the readers to increase their accuracy," he said.
"We also provide facilities to customers to pay mounting bills
through installments. It's part of our service to customers." He
added customers were expected to settle the bills because they
used the service. (09/nvn)