Why Electricity Bills Vary Each Month?
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - PT PLN (Persero) is inviting the public to understand energy consumption patterns and the components that influence electricity payments.
The amount of the electricity bill is not only influenced by the basic electricity tariff. Usage patterns and several additional cost components in each region also determine the amount of payment.
Understanding how electricity is calculated is important so that customers can manage their daily electricity consumption and keep their expenses under control.
Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications and Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) of PLN, Gregorius Adi Trianto, said that changes in electricity bills are more influenced by customer energy usage.
“Electricity payments are not only influenced by electricity tariffs, but also by energy usage patterns and other components in accordance with applicable regulations. With this understanding, customers can more easily manage their electricity consumption according to their needs,” he said in a written statement, Friday (15/5/2026).
The postpaid service calculates the total bill based on the amount of electricity energy used in kilowatt hours (kWh) recorded on the customer’s meter.
This amount is then added to other components, such as the Street Lighting Tax (PPJ), which varies in each region, stamps, and Value Added Tax (VAT) for certain categories.
The prepaid service has a different calculation. The nominal value of the electricity token purchased by the customer is not entirely converted into electricity energy.
A portion of the token value is first allocated to pay the PPJ in accordance with local government regulations. The remaining purchase value is then converted into the amount of kWh that customers can use.
PLN provides an illustration for customers with a 2,200 volt ampere (VA) power who purchase an electricity token worth IDR 200,000.
These customers are subject to a 2.4 percent Jakarta PPJ. The value converted into electricity becomes IDR 195,200.
The postpaid system also still refers to the amount of electricity energy used. If a customer’s electricity usage reaches 135 kWh, the total bill paid will be adjusted after being added to the PPJ component in accordance with applicable regulations.