Power theft causes Rp 11.5b loss
Power theft causes Rp 11.5b loss
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
State electricity company PT PLN is bringing charges against 235
customers, mostly industrial companies, in Jakarta and Tangerang
for stealing electricity and inflicting financial losses of up to
Rp 11.5 billion (US$1.35 million).
PT PLN announced on Monday that the power thefts were
uncovered during its Operasi Petir 2003 monitoring operation,
conducted in June and August.
The operation team has classified the violations and
determined the arrears to be paid by the 235 customers. It is
also investigating and evaluating 287 other companies.
The companies could face criminal charges under Law No.
20/2002 on electricity, as well as civil law charges. If found
guilty, the owners could be imprisoned for up to five years and
fined up to Rp 500 million.
The companies raided in the ongoing operation were those using
a power rate of 200 kilovolt ampere (kVA) and over.
"We are limiting the investigation to those using 200 kVA and
up because they are the biggest users of electricity," said Harry
Ronald, head of the operation team.
He added that the limitation did not rule out the possibility
of monitoring and raiding residences.
The operation is a joint effort between PLN and the city
police, involving raids on areas where power theft is suspected.
It is a fresh attempt to take power thieves to court because in
the past power theft incurred only a fine.
"The thefts have inflicted huge losses on PLN and will affect
power prices. We are concerned more about the customers who pay
their bills as they will suffer because of the stealing," Harry
said.
The theft is mostly accomplished by slowing down the rotation
of the meter or through the placement of a metal strip in the
meter to prevent the recording of power usage.
Harry added that the companies charged with theft were mostly
based in Kapuk and Kalideres, both in West Jakarta, and in the
Tangerang area, where there are industrial complexes.
Currently four companies are going through criminal
proceedings. Police named a company in Cengkareng, West Jakarta,
and a supermarket in Kebayoran, South Jakarta, among the four.
To make the operation more effective, PLN is seeking the help
of citizens in reporting power theft.
"We are offering a reward for anyone who reports power theft.
The reward is in the form of cash equal to 3 percent of the total
arrears collected from the party charged with theft," said Harry.