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)