Streetlights running on borrowed power

Streetlights running on borrowed power

YOGYAKARTA: Illegally erected streetlights in Yogyakarta and
Central Java have caused financial losses of over Rp 100 billion
to state-owned power firm PLN and the Central Java Distribution
Office, an official has revealed.

Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on electricity usage
earlier this week, deputy head of the office's public relations
division Suwondo Kusumo said the problem had been ongoing since
2003.

"The regental administrations concerned erected the lamps but
never paid for the electricity," Suwondo said.

Suwondo said that many people assumed streetlight taxes went
to PLN, whereas, in fact they go directly to regental
administrations.

He said this meant people erected streetlights anywhere they
wanted to, without following the correct procedure.

"I regret that we do not have the right to take action against
this illegal practice, as this matter is under the auspices of
the regional governments," Suwondo said. --JP