Peak Usage Load During Lebaran Will Increase 30.31 Percent, Safe Electricity Supply

Illustration. (Photo: Instagram @pln_id)

JAKARTA - PLN Main Distribution Unit (UID) Jakarta Raya predicts that the peak load of electricity usage on the day of Eid al-Fitr celebration or Eid al-Fitr this year will increase by 30.31 percent compared to 2019. Because of this, various preparations have been made by PLN, one of which is to alert personnel.

General Manager of PLN's Jakarta Raya Distribution Main Unit, Doddy B. Pangaribuan said, the estimated peak load during the D-day of Eid celebration is 3,508.31 MW. This figure is similar to the peak burden for Jakarta at the weekend during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"When compared to last year's Eid Al-Fitr, the estimated peak load for Eid al-Fitr this year has increased by 30.31 percent. This is due to the government banning homecoming and the implementation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in several areas during the pandemic," he said. , in a video conference with journalists, Friday, May 22.

Even though activity at home has increased due to this government policy, Doddy emphasized that the electricity supply is safe because the estimated peak load during Eid Al-Fitr is below the capable power of generators in Jakarta which is at 11,460 MW.

According to Doddy, PLN UID Jakarta has also made various preparations, including conducting electrical network inspections, simulating the reliability of electricity at the Istiqlal Mosque which was conducted on May 19, alerting 2,688 personnel, as well as alerting supporting equipment for escorting supply and electricity reliability.

Furthermore, Doddy explained, PLN UID Jakarta Raya also conducted special monitoring at 35 Reference Hospitals for Handling COVID-19 and three non-hospital institutions. So that the PLN service remains on standby 24 hours and there is no work that results in blackouts during Idul Fitri standby.

"The electricity supply is safe and sufficient. The electricity escort of the COVID-19 Reference Hospital also continues without stopping. Hopefully Muslims, especially in Jakarta, can celebrate Eid al-Fitr with joy even in the midst of this pandemic," he said.

PLN Suggests Communities to Do Independent Meters

PLN, said Donny, will also reactivate direct meter recording by meter registering officers starting in May, for the issuance of electricity bills in June. The meter note officer will come to the postpaid customer's house while still paying attention to the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 prevention guidelines to anticipate the spread of the virus by using standard personal protective equipment.

Donny explained that the public can also do their own stand meter reporting service or independent meter via the WhatsApp Messenger (WA) application to number 08122 123 123 with a reporting period on 24-27 every month. Valid customer self-reporting will be the main priority for calculating electricity bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"If the customer does not send an independent report via WhatsApp and the location of the customer's house cannot be visited by officers, then PLN will use an average of three months as the basis for calculating the electricity bill," he explained.

On the other hand, Donny also appealed to the public to take advantage of online services in making bill payments or purchasing electricity tokens, including through ATMs, Internet Banking, SMS Banking, Digital Wallet Applications (E-Wallet) or through the E-Commerce application. Not only payments, PLN customers can also maximize PLN services online through the PLN 123 Contact Center or the PLN Mobile Application, both for billing information services, new connections, power changes, temporary connections and customer complaints.

"We hope everyone stays at home and doesn't go home. Hopefully we will always be given health, safety and patience. Let's pray that conditions return to normal soon," he said.