"This scheme is ideal for citizens who use 450 and 900 watts of power."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - According to Indonesia`s Industry Minister, MS Hidayat, businesses feel that the nation`s electricity tariff of 15 percent should not be imposed on the entire sector.
"All the industries use electricity, but an increase in the cost of electricity should be gradual. If the cost of electricity increases by 15 percent, it can be tolerated by the industry," said Minister Hidayat, after a coordination meeting on Thursday.
According to him, the industry sector insists that an increase in the cost of electricity should not be imposed on one sector alone, but it should also be imposed on the consumption sector.
The industry has urged the government to impose a higher electricity tariff on middle class people who use 900 watts of power.
"This way, a consumer who uses 900 watts of power will also be affected by an increase in the cost of electricity, but not greatly," he said.
On Wednesday, the government agreed that consumers who use more than 900 watts of power will see an increase in the electricity tariff by 15 percent from January 1, 2013.
The government will increase the electricity tariff by 4.3 percent every quarter.
This scheme was selected, given three options - increase the cost of electricity by 15 percent, gradually increase the cost of electricity every month or gradually increase the cost of electricity every quarter.
"This scheme is ideal for citizens who use 450 and 900 watts of power," said the Minister.
There are different levels with regard to an increase in the cost of electricity.
The electricity tariff for the garment industry will not be higher than the electricity tariff for the entertainment and leisure industries.
(Uu.B019/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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