Power won't be connected if the facilities are unsafe

Power won't be connected if the facilities are unsafe

Fitri Wulandari and Leony Aurora, Jakarta

New applicants for electricity connection in Greater Jakarta are
required to have their electricity facilities certified by the
National Committee for Safety of Electrical Installation
(Konsuil), starting from next month.

Djuhana Djoekardi, head of Konsuil's Jakarta chapter, told The
Jakarta Post on Tuesday that state power firm PT PLN would not
connect electricity to the applicants' homes unless their
facilities had been declared safe by Konsuil.

The government announced on Monday it would start to inspect
electricity facilities, mainly for household customers in the
Greater Jakarta area, to maintain safety.

Konsuil -- comprising of PLN, the Indonesian Association of
Electrical and Mechanical Contractors (AKLI) and the Consultative
Committee of Indonesian Electricity Consumers -- has been
appointed to inspect the facilities of "low-voltage" customers,
who employ power of between 450 volt-amperes (VA) and 2,200 VA.
Inspection fees range between Rp 40,000 (US$4.44) and Rp 60,000,
and certification is valid for 10 years.

Djuhana said, for the time being, Konsuil could only check
prospective customers, as it lacked the manpower to conduct more
extensive inspections.

Every year, around 110,000 people in the Greater Jakarta area
apply to have their electricity connected.

Also, household electricity facilities that are older than 10
years must be routinely checked, according to a government
regulation draft on safe electricity supply.

To obtain Konsuil's certification, developers must apply to
PLN for electricity connection and select PLN-certified
contractors to install the facilities.

"Konsuil will issue safety certification to contractors on
behalf of customers if the facility is properly installed based
on national standards," Djuhana said.

If Konsuil finds the facilities not safe, contractors must
repair them before a second inspection takes place.

Individuals who will build their own homes must also report to
Konsuil for certification.

Although the idea has been welcomed by Jakartans, they are not
keen on paying for the service.

"Why should we pay? We already pay a monthly subscription fee
and meter rent to PLN," said Nasir, a resident of Kebayoran Lama
in South Jakarta.

At least 2.8 million households are served by PLN in Jakarta
and Tangerang. Thus, Konsuil's plan to carry out only 420
inspections within Greater Jakarta this year will likely sideline
old houses.

"It's good to have the installation checked, as the wiring may
have worn out," said Eno, 43, who lives in the slum area next to
the railway in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta.

Although the wiring in his house is more than 15 years old, he
has no plan to rewire it. "I don't know how long I will stay
here. I might be evicted in one or two years."