House approves electricity hike

The House of Representatives Commission VII on energy and mining approved on Tuesday the proposed increase in electricity tariff in July, September, and November of this year, reports said.

The approval was given during a hearing session between the commission and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik.

The government has proposed electricity tariff for six consumer groups including households and industries to be increased by between 5.7-11.7 percent every two months starting July in a bid to cut down electricity subsidy in the 2014 state budget. Jero said that the tariff increase will cut down the subsidy by Rp 8.51 trillion this year. (*)