State-owned electricity provider PT PLN (Persero) has confirmed that electricity tariffs for all 13 non-subsidized and 24 subsidized customer tiers will remain unchanged through September 2026. According to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, the decision aims to preserve consumer purchasing power and maintain national economic stability.
The Bottom Line
- Tariff Freeze: Electricity rates for Q3 2026 (July–September) carry over into September without adjustment, locking in current per-kWh pricing for households, businesses, and industrial users.
- Macroeconomic Metrics: The decision overrides formula-based adjustments dictated by Q3 parameters, which evaluated average figures including an exchange rate of Rp 16,959.32 per US$, an Indonesian Crude Price (ICP) of US$ 96.12 per barrel, an inflation rate of 0.21%, and a Coal Benchmark Price (HBA) of US$ 70 per ton under Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) rules.
- Broad Coverage: Price stability applies universally across subsidized low-voltage tiers, such as 450 VA and 900 VA, as well as commercial and industrial segments governed by Ministry of ESDM Regulation No. 7 of 2024.
Macroeconomic Parameters vs. Government Intervention
Under Ministry of ESDM Regulation Number 7 of 2024, tariffs for non-subsidized customer segments undergo quarterly reviews. These evaluations rely on a mathematical formula tied to four distinct macroeconomic indicators recorded over a preceding three-month window. For the current third-quarter framework, authorities evaluated real-time metrics spanning February to April 2026: a rupiah exchange rate of Rp 16,959.32 per US$, an Indonesian Crude Price (ICP) standing at US$ 96.12 per barrel, inflation pegged at 0.21%, and a Coal Benchmark Price (HBA) fixed at US$ 70 per ton via DMO provisions.
While the explicit pricing formula registered variables that pointed toward potential upward adjustments, executive intervention blocked any movement. Minister Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized that shielding commercial competitiveness and retail demand took priority over strict adherence to formula-driven tariff revisions.
“Demi menjaga daya beli masyarakat serta mendukung stabilitas ekonomi nasional, pemerintah memutuskan tarif listrik Triwulan III Tahun 2026 tetap atau tidak naik,” stated Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.
Detailed Tariff Breakdown Across Customer Segments
The rate freeze governs both prepaid and postpaid options, impacting every demographic from baseline residential accounts to high-voltage industrial operators. According to official data published by Kompas, pricing tiers remain partitioned strictly by connection capacity.
| Customer Category | Capacity / Group | Tariff per kWh (IDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidized Household | 450 VA | Rp 415 |
| Subsidized Household | 900 VA (Subsidy) | Rp 605 |
| Non-Subsidized Household | 900 VA-RTM | Rp 1,352 |
| Non-Subsidized Household | 1,300 VA & 2,200 VA | Rp 1,444.70 |
| Non-Subsidized Household | 3,500 VA to 5,500 VA and above 6,600 VA | Rp 1,699.53 |
| Business Sector | B-2/TR (6,600 VA–200 kVA) | Rp 1,444.70 |
| Business Sector | B-3/TM (above 200 kVA) | Rp 1,114.74 |
| Industrial Sector | I-3/TM (above 200 kVA) | Rp 1,114.74 |
| Industrial Sector | I-4/TT (30,000 kVA and above) | Rp 996.74 |
By absorbing the variance between market-indexed formula outputs and flat consumer pricing, state support mechanisms continue to insulate downstream manufacturing and small-to-medium enterprises (MSMEs) from sudden utility shocks.
Industrial Competitiveness and Market Implications
Instead, keeping industrial tariffs capped at Rp 996.74 per kWh for ultra-large voltage consumers (I-4/TT) provides cost certainty.
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Sustaining Fiscal and Consumer Balance
The ongoing freeze underscores a dual mandate for state utilities and policymakers: ensuring long-term operational sustainability for PT PLN (Persero) while preventing inflationary spirals from reaching consumer households.
