Minister Jonan Asked for Rp1.7tn Extra for Electricity Subsidy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said that he has asked for Rp1.7 trillion extra for electricity subsidy from the government. Additional funds for the subsidies were proposed in the revised 2017 state budget (APBN P).

According to Jonan, the Ministry needs more fund to cover increased number of customers of state-owned electricity company PLN who are entitled to subsidies. In another verification conducted by PLN and Energy Ministry Electricity Directorate General, the government has to subsidize up to 6.5 million customers. Earlier, the Poverty Eradication Team (TNP2K) reported that there were 4.1 million customers of subsidized electricity.

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“We found 2.44 million 900VA electricity customers who were entitled to subsidies but didn’t get them,” Jonan told a press conference yesterday at Energy Ministry building in Central Jakarta.

The government has ordered the PLN to readjust electricity tariff for 2.44 million customers to that of subsidized 900 VA household customers starting July 1. “And repay [restitution] the customers from January 2017 account onward,” he went on.

Jonan added that 55,000 reports were made over electricity subsidy cut for the poor. Upon verification, 27,000 customers whose subsidies were cut are in fact entitled to them. Meanwhile, 27,000 others are still in the process of verification.

CAESAR AKBAR | DEWI