Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday endorsed the government`s proposal to postpone a plan to raise base electricity tariff by 3 percent once every quarter beginning in May 2012.

The House endorsed the proposal at a working meeting with Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik at the parliament building here.

All factions in the House Commission VII had asked for a delay in electricity tariff hike, chief of the House Commission VII Teuku Riefky Harsya who led the meeting said.

"The reason behind their request for the postponement is that the people are to shoulder a burden due to fuel oil prices beginning on April 1, 2012," he said.

He said both the House and the government could consider the proposal for electricity tariff hike at the end of 2012 or early 2013.

Meanwhile, Minister Jero Wacik said the government was still undecided about how long the postponement would last.

"It could last until next year," he said.

He said both the House and the government could resume the discussion on base electricity tariff hike when they discussed the draft 2013 state budget at the end of October 2012.

The government had originally planned to raise base electricity tariff by 3 percent once every quarter, namely on May 1, August 1 and November 1 and hoped the tariff hike could reduce electricity subsidy by Rp4.65 trillion. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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