In Arrears Of Payments, PLN Cuts Off The Flow Of Electricity In 7 Kotim Regency Offices

JAKARTA - The manager of PT PLN's Sampit Customer Service Unit, Deddy Noveyusa, has not been able to talk much about electricity sealing in a number of regional apparatus organization unit (SOPD) offices within the Kotawaringin Timur (Kotim) Regency Government, Central Kalimantan.

Until now, his party is still coordinating with local governments. "For now, we are still coordinating with the regional government," said Deddy Noveyusa, quoted by Antara, Monday, February 1.

The news of the sealing of electricity from a number of SOPD offices within the Kotawaringin Timur Regency Government surfaced on Friday, January 29. The cause is the arrears in SOPD bill payments. The information is that there are 7-9 local governments whose electricity has been turned off by PLN.

However, regarding that number, Deddy said that the regional government knows better.

In general, sealing is carried out on customers who are in arrears for payments, both private houses and government offices. Before the sealing was carried out, PLN sent a letter asking the customer to immediately pay off the payment.

If the customer does not heed it, PLN takes action by cutting off electricity by sealing the electricity meter. This action was also carried out against the offices belonging to the regional government.

Deddy did not deny that the sealing was still happening and the electricity had not been connected. Coordination is still being carried out with local governments and he hopes this can be resolved soon.

Acting Regional Secretary for East Kotawaringin, Suparmadi, did not speak directly about this termination. He said, PLN and local governments are both tasked with providing services to the community.

"There are about seven SOPDs who reported earlier. I have directly called the PLN Sampit Manager. This is just a matter of communication. I ask that starting today, the electricity will be turned on again. This can be communicated and resolved properly," said Suparmadi.

A number of offices whose electricity is sealed by PLN include the Environmental Service, Trade and Industry Service, Housing and Residential Area Service. There are also offices that were once sealed but their electricity was supplied again after settling the arrears of payments.

According to Suparmadi, if the electricity supply to the SOPD office is stopped, the work of local employees will automatically be disrupted. The impact will also make services to the community neglected.

Regarding the arrears of payments, according to him, it can be discussed properly so that there is no need to seal the electricity meter. He ensured that there could be no intention of the regional government not to pay the electricity bill to PLN because it was an obligation.

Suparmadi admits that he understands that maybe PLN has a target related to billing payments from customers, so they urge all customers to pay bills on time.

However, for government offices, Suparmadi asked for mutual understanding because there is an administrative process that takes time. Moreover, this is the beginning of the fiscal year so disbursement of regional budgets will take time because there are procedures that must be followed.

Even seeking bailout funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Suparmadi, was not as easy as usual. It takes time, especially if the bill is large enough.

"This is just a matter of communication. Alhamdulillah there is an agreement and PLN is ready to help. Later I will summon all the SOPD heads to resolve this. I ask that the electricity be turned on again because this agency is also important to serve the community. Services should not be disturbed," he said.