Tips from PLN to Understand Electricity Bills
PLN is encouraging the public to understand energy consumption patterns and the components that make up electricity bills so that electricity usage can be more efficient and in line with daily needs.
Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications and Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) at PLN, Gregorius Adi Trianto, said that the amount of electricity payments for customers can vary each period. This is influenced by the level of electricity usage and a number of other cost components that apply in each region.
“Electricity payments are not only influenced by electricity tariffs, but also by energy usage patterns and other components that follow government regulations or applicable regulations,” said Gregorius in a written statement on Friday, May 15, 2026.
He explained that residential electricity tariffs have not changed since July 2022. Therefore, if there is a change in the amount of payment, it is generally due to changes in electricity consumption patterns or other additional cost components.
For postpaid services, electricity bills are calculated based on the amount of electricity energy or kilowatt-hours (kWh) recorded on the customer’s meter. This value is then added to other components, such as street lighting tax (PPJ), stamps, and value-added tax (VAT) for certain categories.
Meanwhile, for prepaid services, the value of the electricity tokens purchased by customers is not entirely converted into electricity energy. Some of the funds are first used to pay for PPJ in accordance with local government regulations.
As an example, said Gregorius, customers with a 2,200 VA capacity who purchase electricity tokens worth IDR 200,000 in Jakarta will be subject to a PPJ of 2.4 percent. This means that the value converted into electricity is IDR 195,200. “With a tariff of IDR 1,444.70 per kWh, customers will receive approximately 135 kWh of electricity energy,” he said.
PLN also encourages customers to use the features on PLN Mobile to monitor their electricity usage history and token purchases.
Specifically for postpaid customers, PLN provides the Swacam or Swadaya Catat Angka Meter feature which allows customers to record meter readings independently through the application. This feature is considered to help customers control their monthly electricity usage more transparently.
“By understanding consumption patterns and electricity payment components, customers can use electricity energy more efficiently and comfortably,” he said.
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