Government Continues Quarter III Electricity Stimulus, Check Out The Details

Illustration - PLN UIW Sulselrabag continues electricity stimulus for certain customers. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The government has extended the provision of electricity stimulus in the form of discounted electricity tariffs, exemption from burden or subscription fees, and exemption from the application of minimum account provisions in the third quarter of 2021 or the period of July-September 2021.

PPKM emergency, the government decided to continue the electricity program stimulus until the third quarter of 2021 with the provisions as applied in the second quarter of 2021," said Director General of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Rida Mulyana in a statement in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Monday, July 5.

Rida said this was a follow-up to the results of the press conference of the Minister of Finance on July 2, 2021, regarding aspects of the State Budget for the implementation of the emergency PPKM.

According to Rida, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has instructed PT PLN (Persero) to extend the implementation of the electricity program stimulus in the third quarter of 2021.

The details of the electricity program stimulus in the third quarter of 2021 are as follows:

1. Extension of the implementation of PT PLN (Persero) electricity tariff discounts for household, business, and industrial customers is carried out with the following conditions:

a. Customers for household 450 VA power (R1/TR 450 VA), small business 450 VA power (B1/TR 450 VA), and small industry 450 VA power (I1/TR 450 VA):

1) Regular (postpaid): electricity bills are given a discount of 50 percent or free (use fees and load fees);

2) Prepaid: given a discount on electricity rates for token purchases of 50 percent;

b. Subsidized 900 VA power household customers (R1/TR 900 VA):

1) Regular (postpaid): electricity bills are given a discount of 25 percent (use fees and load charges);

2) Prepaid: given a discount on electricity rates for token purchases of 25 percent;

2. Exemption from the application of the minimum account provisions of 50 percent for PLN customers whose electricity consumption is below the minimum account provisions (40 hours on), applies to:

a. Social class customers with power 1,300 VA and above (S-2/TR 1,300 VA to S-3/TM > 200 kVA);

b. Business Class customers with a power of 1,300 VA and above (B-1/TR 1,300 VA to B-3/TM > 200 kVA); and

c. Customers of the Industrial Group with a power of 1,300 VA and above (I-1/TR 1,300 VA to I-4/TT, 30,000 kVA and above); and customers pay according to the use of electrical energy;

3. Exemption from the application of the minimum account provisions of 50 percent for customers of special service classes according to the power purchase agreement (SPJBTL);

4. Exemption of 50 percent of the burden or subscription fee applies to:

a. Social class customers with 220 VA, 450 VA, and 900 VA power (S-1/TR 220 VA to S-2/TR 900 VA);

b. Business Class customers with 900 VA power (B-1/TR 900 VA); and

c. Industrial Class customers with 900 VA power (I-1/TR 900 VA).

Rida continued that the total budget needed for the provision of electricity program stimulus until the third quarter of 2021 reached Rp9.27 trillion, with 33.74 million beneficiary customers.

The need for an additional budget for the extension of this stimulus reached Rp2.33 trillion from the first-semester allocation of Rp6.94 trillion.

Rida also added that if there are customers who have made electricity bill payment transactions or purchased electricity tokens in early July 2021, PLN will provide restitution.

The implementation of restitution for regular customers (postpaid) in the form of a discount value which will become the balance in the following month.

As for prepaid customers, the discount value will be given in the form of a refund token.

In implementing the program, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said that PLN is still trying to maintain the efficiency of electricity exploitation and maintain the quality of services provided to consumers.

"PLN must continue to strive to maintain the efficiency of electricity exploitation and provide services to customers in accordance with the level of quality of electric power services, as well as submit reports to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources," said Rida.