As A Result Of The COVID-19 Pandemic, PLN Jakarta's Electricity Consumption Declines By 4.58 Percent As Of November 2020

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. PLN)

JAKARTA - Electricity consumption in the distribution area of Greater Jakarta towards the end of this year has not yet recovered. In fact, it was recorded down to 4.58 percent when compared to the same period last year. One of the causes is the COVID-19 pandemic.

General Manager of PLN's Main Distribution Unit (UID) Jakarta Raya Doddy B. Pangaribuan said the COVID-19 pandemic has made the realization of the consumption or sale of electricity very far from the set target of around 4 percent.

"There is a pandemic, the realization is far from wild. What we want is to grow by 4 percent, but now it has decreased by 4.58 percent. This is unfortunate, but indeed economic conditions are also being hit everywhere," he said in a press conference virtual, Tuesday, December 22.

Despite the decline, Doddy said, the realization of electricity sales as of November was still better than the projected scenario during the pandemic. PLN UID Jakarta Raya has made electricity sales projections with three scenarios ranging from optimistic to pessimistic scenarios.

In the optimistic scenario, electricity sales by the end of this year are estimated to drop 10 percent compared to last year's realization. Meanwhile, in the moderate scenario, electricity sales are expected to fall 15 percent. Even this year's electricity sales are projected to fall by 18 percent in a pessimistic scenario.

"We are also working hard to make innovations, so that the decline that occurs is not as deep as projected. Alhamdulillah, until this November, minus 4.58 percent. So it is better than an optimistic scenario," he said.

Doddy said, this achievement was obtained through various efforts made by the central PLN and its parties. Starting from maintaining growth in electricity sales, running a stimulus program for discounting electricity bills from the government, accelerating and simplifying procedures for connecting electricity to customers, to guaranteeing the reliability of electricity in a number of vital places.

"To be achieved like this is certainly not a coincidence. We are also working with the provincial government, with the COVID-19 Task Force, to provide better electricity reliability. So that we are trusted, for example the public to continue using PLN electricity instead of using generators," he said .