This is why the government does not grant electricity subsidies to 1,300 VA customers.

YAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif explained the reason why the government did not grant subsidies to the electricity customers of wealthy households.

According to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, groups can have many assets, such as refrigerators and air conditioners.

“The rate group of households with R-1 capacity of 900 volts amps (VA) in 2020 did not receive subsidies, including the R-1 group of 1,300 volts amps. Because this group of households has many assets such as refrigerators, televisions and even air conditioners (AC), “he said in a virtual meeting with Commission VII of the Indonesian Parliament on Monday (4/5/2020).

The government has decided to provide electricity subsidies to groups of households that cannot pay R-1 450 VA and R-1 900 VA and companies and small industries with the same voltage.

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This is because the government refers to the mentioned social welfare data (DTKS) that 40 percent of the beneficiaries of electricity subsidies are the poor of the total population.

Arifin explained that there are currently 38 groups of electricity rates, consisting of 25 groups of subsidized rates and 13 classes of unsubsidized rates.

The number of R-1 450 VA clients cannot afford up to 23.9 million people, while the R-1 900 VA group is around 7.3 million people.

Meanwhile, 22.7 million customers are in the category of homes with a capacity of R-1 950 VA, and 11.6 million are electricity customers using R-1 1,300 VA with the same class, so that the total rate customers power in Indonesia reaches 70.1 million soul

“To help the poor and the vulnerable poor as a result of the Covid-1.9 pandemic, the government has formulated a policy of offering electricity bills for three months, from April to June. Where R-1 450 volt amps get a 100 percent discount and R-1,900 volt amps cannot afford a 50 percent discount, “he explained.

Arifin added, to maintain the economic activities of entrepreneurs or small industries, electricity customers of small tariff companies (B-1) 400 VA and small industries (I-1) 450 VA, the government also gave a discount 100 percent on electricity bills for six months.

“In fact, what the government gives is only R-1 450 VA and also R-1 900 VA households cannot afford it,” he said.