The new electricity tariff

The new electricity tariff

The State Electricity Company's (PLN's) plan to raise its
power tariffs has met few obstacles this time. Unlike on earlier
occasions, the involvement of members of the House of
Representatives has been greater with this plan.

Another aspect that makes the current rate increase plan
different from earlier ones is that this time the increase will
not be effected all at once. Every three months the rates will be
increased by 0.04 to 0.05 percent in order not to jolt the
public.

Obviously this new mechanism and method does not guarantee
that there will be no reactions. The problem is that any increase
in tariffs, however small, will be felt as a burden. Therefore
the government should pay due attention to the suggestion made by
the House of Representatives that this increase in rates be
balanced by an improvement in the PLN's services and in the
company's management.

It must be admitted that the improvement in the PLN's services
has been quite convincing lately. Requests for new connections or
for an increase in capacity are quickly looked after.

Nevertheless, there are still complaints. Sudden blackouts or
fluctuations in the line voltage, for example, still frequently
occur.

True, all this is not entirely the PLN's fault. The public is
also quite often to blame, as in cases of theft or illicit power
tapping. In any case, however, it is the PLN's duty to do
something about it.

-- Republika, Jakarta