Luhut's Men Find 10 Percent Of Cases Of Unreasonable Increase In Electricity Bills During The PSBB

Illustration. (Photo: PLN)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marves) found an abnormal electricity bill that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the implementation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB).

Deputy for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the findings originated from customer complaints received through the electricity bill complaint post for the Marves community.

Then, said Purbaya, from the complaint, his party followed up with the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN). After taking to the field, it was found that there were several cases of an abnormal increase in electricity bills.

According to Luhut Pandjaitan's subordinates, the problem of the surge in electricity bills was due to data entry errors that occurred due to human errors. This error will make a difference in usage and electricity bills.

For information, until June 2020, the Coordinating Ministry for Marves has accommodated 410 complaints. However, said Purbaya, of the total complaints received, only a few cases of an unnatural increase in electricity bills were found.

"So if those who enter us are slightly under 10 percent. We do (search) to see that there are no general symptoms that the error has occurred massively. So, after we did the testing it turned out to be not massive. It means that in general it is okay, but we are. must focus on customers who are not fair earlier, "he said.

Purbaya emphasized that the increase in electricity bills due to errors in recording customer meters, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) was obliged to return the overpaid customers either in cash or bill deductions in the following months.

PLN head office in Jakarta (Angga Nugraha)

"Each case I don't understand (how much the increase is), but basically it should be returned to the community (the excess of the bill) or it can be used as a reduction in the following month," he said.

One example of an unnatural increase in electricity bills is the case experienced by Teguh Wuryanto. Through his social media account, he shared his experience of receiving electricity bill receipts which jumped drastically to reach Rp. 20 million in May. In fact, he felt that he had never previously received bills of more than Rp. 2,500,000 per month.

Based on the invoices, Teguh's repair shop electricity bill in February amounted to Rp2,152,494. Then in the following month IDR 921,067, then increased in April to IDR 1,218,912. However, in May, the bill increased 20-fold by Rp.20,158,686.

Regarding Teguh's case, said Purbaya, the Coordinating Ministry for Marves is investigating the complaint of the surge in electricity costs of up to Rp20 million. This investigation aims to provide justice to Teguh.

"As I said earlier, we are sending people to Malang, to a place that has a welding business, the increase is not expected, to see where the problem is," he said.