Power Elimination 450 VA Impressed And Not Feeling

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VII DPR RI Mulyanto assessed that the government's plan to abolish the 450 volt ampere (VA) electricity customer group seemed rushed and had no heart.

"Don't let the government's mistakes in planning electricity needs be diverted to the small people. This is unfair. Moreover, the community is currently having a hard time, because of the COVID-19 pandemic which has not yet ended, the increase in fuel prices, and the increase in food prices. The government can no longer renegotiate with private power plants (IPP) to put the brakes on additional new power plants in an effort to suppress the electricity surplus," said Mulyanto in a statement to the media, Friday, September 16.

He asked the government to be careful and comprehensive in over-supply of PLN's electricity surplus.

"Don't let the people be sacrificed by deleting the power of 450 VA customers," he said.

Regarding electricity inundation from new and renewable energy sources (EB-ET), according to him, the government should not be dictated by international parties and sacrifice the community.

Even if the government will remove 450 VA-powered electricity customers and divert them to 900 VA power, he continued, it is better if electricity subsidies are still provided.

Don't delete the subsidies. This will burden the people. Then the transfer of PLN electricity from 450 VA to 900 VA is given free of charge without any fees," he added.

Mulyanto reminded the government to consult with Commission VII of the DPR RI, which handles this energy problem, before taking electricity-related policies, which have a broad impact on the community.

"If the method is like this, it has violated our constitutional standards. Commission VII of the DPR RI in the near future will summon related parties asking for information on this matter," explained Mulyanto.

Just so you know, the Government plans to abolish the use of 450 VA electricity in order to absorb electricity belonging to PT PLN (Persero) which is currently experiencing over supply.

PLN is experiencing oversupply of 6 Giga Watt (GW) electricity at this time.

Next year there will be a new power plant that will operate and result in an additional oversupply of 1.4 GW to 7.4 GW.

Not to mention, the government is marketing electricity production from New Energy and Renewable Energy. EBET electricity will enter in 2030. If this happens, it is estimated that the electricity overplay faced by PLN will further swell to 41 GW," he concluded.