PLN to compensate 5.5% of customers for blackout

PLN to compensate 5.5% of customers for blackout

Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

State power firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has decided
to compensate approximately 5.5 percent of customers that were
affected on Thursday by a massive blackout in Jakarta, West Java
and Banten.

Only 475 customers in Jakarta and Tangerang would be eligible
to get a 10 percent reduction in next month's bill according to
PLN, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

The total amount of the bill cuts is estimated to be Rp 3.5
million (US$350).

The service standards for Jakarta and Tangerang, which serves
3.1 million houses or buildings, is between six and seven power
disruptions or cumulative time of between 24 hours and 25 hours
in a month, depending on the area.

"Customers that have blackouts of 10 percent more than the
standard have the right to compensation of a 10 percent reduction
in power costs," said the statement.

Jakarta and Banten turned completely dark for between 1.5
hours and 12 hours last Thursday, while other parts of Java were
also affected for up to 1.5 hours by the blackout, which was
caused by a "glitch" in the island's interconnection system.

PLN said that 2.21 million people, or a third of its billing
addresses in West Java and Banten had experienced blackouts. Some
293,235 customers will be compensated, with the amount reaching
Rp 876 million.

The standards in this distribution area are between two and 40
power cuts or cumulative blackouts of between six and 48 hours
per month.