Dr. Nanang Hariyanto Tanggapi Melonjaknya Biaya Listrik yang Membebani Masyarakat
PIKIRAN RAKYAT - Electrical Engineering expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Nanang Hariyanto assessed that the increase in electricity costs that must be paid by a number of residents was due to the lack of calculation of electricity usage by PLN for the past three months.
This was because for three months, from February 2020 to April 2020, PLN officers were unable to directly check electricity meters at residents' homes due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Thus, PLN averaged the electricity usage by residents over the last few months in 2019 for electricity payments from February 2020 to April 2020. However, it turned out that the electricity costs paid by residents did not match the actual costs that had to be paid.
This was discovered after PLN directly checked the meter equipment at residents' homes in May 2020. The underpayment was then charged to residents in May 2020, causing residents' electricity bills to swell.
Nanang also believes that the increase in residents' electricity bills is likely due to increased electricity usage during the work-from-home period during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, to reassure the public, Nanang hopes PLN will soon implement a device called a smart meter. With this device, electricity usage can be read immediately after use.
Nanang also believes that to reassure customers, an independent body should be established, one of whose duties would be to monitor PLN's electricity usage records. With an independent body, the public would be less suspicious of PLN's electricity bills.***