Able To Maintain Purchasing Power, Puskepi Hopes Electricity Tariff Discounts Are Implemented Again

Illustration - PLN officers provide services at customers' homes. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Director of the Center for Public Policy Studies (Puskepi) Sofyano Zakaria encouraged the government to re-implement the 50 percent electricity tariff discount policy, such as from January to February 2025 because it was proven to be able to maintain people's purchasing power.

"The electricity discount policy run by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) can be reimplemented because it is proven to maintain purchasing power and have a positive effect on social stability. Thus, electricity discounts also support economic growth in 2025," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 6.

According to him, this policy has a major impact on employment and socio-economic stability, especially that more affordable electricity rates really help the community while maintaining national economic growth.

In addition to the economic impact, he continued, electricity discounts also have a positive psychological effect on the community.

This policy is a strong signal that the government is here to ease the burden on the community amid rising prices and needs, especially at the beginning of the new year.

"This psychological effect is important to maintain public trust in the government and socio-economic stability. This shows the government's commitment to maintaining people's welfare and strengthening the national economy," he said.

He hopes that the electricity discount policy can be implemented again so that the national economic recovery will be stronger and people's welfare will increase.

Pemerintah sebelumnya merancang enam paket insentif untuk mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi, termasuk rencana pemberian diskon tarif listrik bagi pelaku usaha tertentu.

Insentif tersebut diberikan dalam bentuk potongan tarif listrik sebesar 50 persen bagi 79,3 juta pelanggan rumah tangga dengan daya listrik maksimal 1.300 VA.

Skema ini diusulkan berlangsung dari 5 Juni hingga 31 Juli 2025 dan mengacu pada pola pemberian diskon yang sebelumnya telah diterapkan pada awal tahun, namun insentif tarif listrik tersebut akhirnya dicabut dari daftar.

The government previously designed six incentive packages to encourage economic growth, including plans to provide discount electricity rates for certain business actors.

The incentive is given in the form of a 50 percent discount on electricity rates for 79.3 million household customers with a maximum electricity power of 1,300 VA.

The scheme is proposed to take place from June 5 to July 31, 2025 and refers to the pattern of discounting that was previously implemented at the beginning of the year, but the electricity tariff incentive was eventually lifted from the list.