Indonesia's street vendors to use coin-based electricity system

PLN’s Jakarta branch has launched a coin-based electricity credit system for street vendors.

According to a PLN spokesman, the system was created to answer the public’s need of easy and safe access to electricity.

"It is also expected that the system could reduce the number of electricity hitching, which is illegal,” said PLN communication and community development deputy manager Irwan Darwin.

Through this program, consumers could enjoy 900 watts worth of electricity for 30 minutes, all for just a Rp 1,000 coin or 11 US cents. If the street vendors were about to run out of electricity they could simply add another coin to the machine for another 30 minute block of electricity.

Irwan noted that this program is also suitable for anyone in public areas who needed electricity to recharge their laptop or cellphone batteries.

"We’re going to develop the system in many bus stations, terminals and of course, shopping malls, so people wouldn’t get into trouble whenever they are in need of electricity,” he said.

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