Power Outages Across Central Java Disrupt Student Registration and Remote Work

Central Java has experienced repeated, unannounced power outages lasting several hours across multiple districts in recent weeks, disrupting critical services and daily activities. In Boja District, Kendal Regency, two outages occurred within a single week—one on Monday, June 15 at 10:00 AM and another on Wednesday, June 17 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM—preventing schools from conducting new student registration processes. A teacher at a local Islamic secondary school (MTs) reported that without backup generators, registration had to be postponed, and the school's electric water pumps ceased functioning, creating water supply shortages. Similar disruptions were reported across other districts. In Girimarto District, Wonogiri Regency, power cuts occurred at least three times over two weeks, severely hampering work-from-home (WFH) activities for residents. One HR manager experienced internet disconnections during job interviews and online presentations, forcing her to switch to mobile devices mid-meeting and corrupting downloaded files. In Sokaraja District, Banyumas Regency, residents reported outages averaging three hours, damaging refrigerated food and raising concerns about appliance deterioration. Residents expressed frustration that the state-owned electricity company PT PLN rarely provided advance notice, forcing people to discover outages only after they occurred or when enough public complaints prompted announcements. This lack of communication prevented families and businesses from preparing contingency measures or protecting perishable goods.