South Sumatra Consumer Foundation Applauds PLN; Only 21 Villages Left Without Electricity Access

The Consumer Foundation (YLK) of South Sumatra has lauded PT PLN, the state electricity company, for its commitment to extending power services to remote villages across the province. As of Saturday, August 22, only 21 villages, representing less than one percent of the total 3,258 villages and sub-districts in South Sumatra, still lack electricity access. These remaining villages are predominantly located in the Banyuasin Regency, particularly in coastal and riverside areas.

Rizal Aprizal, a trustee of YLK Sumsel, emphasized the importance of recognizing PLN's efforts to encourage continued progress. He stated that the remaining electrified villages constitute only about two percent of the population in need. "PLN's struggle to reach all villages needs to be appreciated so they are more enthusiastic and can be realized soon," he said.

The South Sumatra provincial government, in collaboration with PLN, is actively working to accelerate electricity access through the "Listrik Masuk Desa" (Electricity Enters the Village) program. Governor Herman Deru highlighted the program's critical role in ensuring that communities without power by 2026 gain access to energy. Challenges such as remote geography, long distances for grid extension (20-30 kilometers), and protected forest areas have hindered the electrification process.

Despite these obstacles, PLN has secured approval to build power grids in 118 locations across 14 regencies and cities, targeting 6,045 household connections. The General Manager of PLN's Main Distribution Unit for South Sumatra, Jambi, and Bengkulu (S2JB), Diksi Erfani Umar, confirmed that state budget funding is available for this program. "Alhamdulillah, the budget for the village electricity program this year has been released. Of the 118 locations, 98 will be worked on immediately and are predicted to be completed by December 2026 or by March 2027," Erfani stated.