Have you heard of “Tarif Listrik Multiguna”? This translates to “Multipurpose Electricity Tariff”. I don’t really understand the meaning of “multipurpose” in this term, but here’s how it works. For many years, PLN (Indonesian sole power company) has applied the monthly “subscription fee” scheme. Depending on the service you apply for, you will be charged a monthly subscription fee. But starting from February 2006 (pardon my ignorance), the rule has been changed. Every house applying eversince will be charged with a monthly minimum payment. This scheme used to be applied only to the industrial sector (companies, factories, etc), but not household consumers.

I really don’t understand the rationale of this. It’s commonly known that PLN is facing power crisis, regular blackouts still occur, load balancing is still an issue. In fact, not long ago, PLN is campaigning to the Indonesian people to save electricity in their homes. The campaign was so serious that even the government are participating in it. They endorsed people to save electricity, minimize the use of air conditioners, kill the lights during daytime and all sorts of attempts (btw are people, even the government, still doing this?). Now then what happens in the mind of Indonesians that are forced to enroll with this so-called Multipurpose Tariff? Well here’s how my head works:

    - PLN is making me pay a monthly minimum fee of Rp.209.000 (thats almost 20 dollars) for a 2200 Watt service
    - Now, if I was able to save electricity, and consume a Rp.150.000 worth of service; I would still be charged with Rp.209.000.
    - Hold on!!! That means I am paying an extra Rp.59.000 for NOTHING. Why on earth am I saving electricity? If I pay more than I should for the service. Why not I just “waste” (if u will) electricity, at least to that minimum payment.

Not only it’s expensive, this scheme actually promotes people to use more electricity. Of course every customer wants the kind of service that they pay for. Of course, everyone should better understand the amount of power they need. But what ever happened to the power crisis? What happened to that campaign and essay competitions about saving electricity, if in the end the scheme that PLN poses, actually does the absolute opposite.

Another thing about PLN is that they seem to be able to keep increasing the price of electricity, but not increase their service accordingly. Who in Indonesia has survived a month without temporary power outage? This is very sad.