'PLN's service is still lousy'

'PLN's service is still lousy'

State power company PT PLN is asking people in Java and Bali to
save energy from May 23 to June 6 as it struggles to complete a
natural gas conversion project at the Muara Karang and Tanjung
Priok power plants. Responding to the appeal, the Jakarta
administration is switching on street lamps and lamps used for
outdoor billboard advertisements only after 8 p.m., and has
reduced the use of air-conditioners. The Jakarta Post asked
residents for their thoughts on the issue.

Sara Karina, 27, is a kindergarten teacher living in Cempaka
Putih, Central Jakarta.

PLN's call to switch off at least two lights between 5 p.m.
and 10 p.m. has proven to be ineffective. How could it be
effective if not all households obey the call? In my neighborhood
unit, only one household has turned off its light for the whole
week, but the rest are using the same amount of lights as they
use to.

Moreover, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. is a break time for housewives,
when almost all household work is done. We mostly use that time
to watch soap operas or gossip shows on TV. It is difficult for
us to save lights during that period. If PLN wants to urge us to
save lights, they should urge us to do it after 10 p.m.

I understand that the purpose of the call is good, but the
image of PLN itself is very bad among consumers. As a producer,
they demand more than they give. They raise the price all the
time, but yet, their services are still lousy.

Reza, 16, is a third-year high school student. He lives with
his parents in Kramat, Central Jakarta.

Many of my friends talk about how we must save energy and do
what PLN told us to do -- switching off the lights every evening.
But, I don't think they really do it.

For students, the 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. period is the time to
relax and spend quality time in their rooms while playing video
games, watching movies or listening to the radio. You can't ask
students to save electricity in those hours. The students earn
that quality time after spending the whole day at school.

Most students would be very angry if Jakarta is hit by a major
black out, but they won't blame themselves. They will blame PLN
for it. So, I guess PLN should find some other creative ways to
save on electricity.

--The Jakarta Post