"If the price of subsidized fuel oils is to be raised in April 2012, then the base electricity tariff will be increased in May 2012," Jero Wacik said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government is mulling to raise base electricity tariff (TDL) by 10 percent in stages as of May 2012.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said here on Tuesday the base electricity tariff and the price of subsidized fuel oils will not be raised simultaneously.

"If the price of subsidized fuel oils is to be raised in April 2012, then the base electricity tariff will be increased in May 2012," he said.

Under the draft of revised 2012 state budget, the base electricity tariff will gradually be increased once every three months, he said.

But the minister said he did not know exactly how much the base electricity tariff would be raised every three months.

Earlier, the government said it planned to raise the base electricity tariff by 10 percent effective April 1, 2012.

The electricity tariff hike would originally be announced along with the fuel price increase of Rp1,500 a liter.

But under the draft of revised 2012 state budget the government proposed that the increase in base electricity tariff be introduced as of May 2012.

The 10 percent increase in base electricity tariff is expected to reduce electricity subsidy by Rp8.9 trillion this year.

With the average increase of 10 percent, the base electricity tariff will increase to Rp796 from Rp729 per kWh previously.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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