Gov’t Provides Free Electricity to Small Business for Six Months

Infographic of free electricity for small businesses in the 450-volt ampere (VA) category. (Photo by: State-owned Electricity Firm PLN)

The Government has decided to provide free electricity to small-scale business and industries in the 450-volt ampere (VA) category for six months (May-October).

The measure is a follow-up of social assistance policy of providing free access to electricity and 50 percent discount to millions of households.

“The technicalities of providing free electricity to small-scale business on B1/450-volt ampere (VA) contracts and to small-scale industries on I1/450-volt ampere (VA) contracts will use the same mechanism as free electricity for households,” Executive Vice President Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of State-owned Electricity Company PLN Made Suprateka said.

For the record, free access to electricity has been granted for millions of households eligible for the aid since April. Meanwhile, post-paid customers from small business and industries on 450-volt ampere (VA) contracts will receive zero rupiah electricity bill in May to October.

“As for pre-paid customers, they can receive token (20-digit number to be entered into the electricity meter) for free electricity quota through www.pln.co.id or WhatsApp number 0812-2-123-123,” he added.

The process through WhatsApp will take a couple of day since the PLN must input data of customers eligible for the aid in the database system.

“Customers may send their customer numbers to the aforementioned number through WhatsApp and if the data conforms to the criteria for eligible customer for free electricity aid, they will get the token to be inputted into their pre-paid electricity meter,” he explained.

He went on to say that village facilitator will be involved in the distribution of the token to small business and industries in villages that could not get access to internet services.

“Free electricity program which will be provided for six months is expected can help small business to survive amidst COVID-19 pandemic,” he concluded. (State-owned Electricity Firm PLN PR/EN).

Translated by : Rany Anjany S
Reviewed by: Lulu Wuliarti