PLN Affirms No 450 VA Power Elimination

JAKARTA - PT PLN (Persero) has confirmed that there will be no elimination of the customer group with a power of 450 VA. Electric power of 450 VA will also not be increased to 900 VA and there will be no changes in electricity rates.

"The Government's decision is very clear. There has been no change in power from 450 VA to 900 VA and PLN is ready to carry out the decision. So far, the Government and PLN as implementers of the electricity mandate from the Government have never held talks or discussions about changes to the electricity of the community," said PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo in a statement to the media, Saturday, September 17.

Darmawan emphasized that PLN continues to coordinate and communicate with the government to protect the public in getting electricity. PLN ensures that electricity services in the country remain reliable and optimal, thereby maintaining productivity and people's purchasing power during the economic recovery period amid rising world energy commodity prices.

Previously, the Government and the Budget Agency (Banggar) of the DPR RI agreed to increase the electricity of the poor, which was originally only 450 volt amperes (VA) to 900 VA.

Chairman of the Banggar DPR RI Said Abdullah in his presentation said this was intended so that the oversupply of PLN could be handled immediately. Based on Said's submission, it is known that PLN's oversupply of electricity is estimated to reach 41 gigawatts (GW) in 2030.

"The oversupply of PLN electricity has reached 6 gigawatts (GW) and will increase to 7.4 GW in 2023, even estimated to reach 41 GW in 2030," he said during a meeting to discuss the 2023 RAPBN at the DPR RI Building, Monday 12 September.

Meanwhile, there is a take or pay scheme from electricity produced by IPP, so PLN still has to pay according to the contract, which is IDR 3 trillion per 1 GW produced.

According to him, the government needs to take a policy by increasing the power for the community below the poverty line to no longer use electricity with a power of 450 VA.

"We increase the policy, that for the poor it is below the poverty line and those who are vulnerable are at least 900 VA. At least oversupply is reduced and the demand is increasing," he said.