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."