MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The
Deli Serdang Regency Government has reaffirmed its readiness to support the expansion of electricity access in rural areas, including the provision of additional connections for 105 households across five villages. At the same time, the regional government has urged all parties to ensure that land ownership and usage rights are legally clarified before construction of electricity networks begins.
The commitment was conveyed by Deli Serdang Regent dr. H. Asri Ludin Tambunan during a coordination meeting to synchronize proposed locations for the Rural Electricity Program (Listrik Perdesaan/Lisdes), prepare the required land, and address licensing requirements. The meeting was held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the hall of the PLN Unit Induk Distribusi Sumatera Utara office in Medan.
Asri Ludin emphasized that electricity network expansion must be accompanied by legal certainty over the land to be used. Particular attention, he said, should be given to several former HGU land areas in
Deli Serdang whose legal status still needs to be clarified.
According to Asri Ludin, an electricity program designed to improve public welfare must not create new land-related problems in the future. Therefore, land preparation must include verification of whether usage rights and other legal requirements have been clearly established.
"If electricity is to be provided, we must first ensure that the usage rights have been clearly established. We want to help the community, but today's convenience must not become a problem in the future," he said.
Land Status Must Be Clarified Before Network Expansion
Asri Ludin said the regional government would continue supporting communities that need better access to electricity. However, such support must be implemented within an orderly land-use framework and accompanied by clear legal certainty.
He also highlighted the situation of micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM) operating along roads. Some of these businesses already have electricity connections even though their locations do not fully comply with the designated land-use arrangements.
According to Asri, the situation requires a joint solution so that community economic activities can continue to grow without neglecting spatial order and land-use planning. The
Deli Serdang Regency Government is prepared to provide more orderly locations for UMKM while encouraging the use of official electricity connections.
"UMKM must continue to receive support. The regional government is ready to provide locations for UMKM and facilitate official electricity connections. This will allow people's businesses to continue operating without neglecting the orderliness of the areas," he said.
Asri Ludin emphasized that efforts to reorganize areas should not be interpreted as an attempt to restrict people's economic activities. Instead, the government aims to create a safer, more orderly and legally secure environment for businesses, allowing UMKM to develop sustainably.
The initiative is also linked to the Gerakan Indonesia ASRI movement, which promotes comprehensive improvements and greater order in people's living environments. The Deli Serdang Regency Government is working to ensure that the development of basic infrastructure, including electricity supply, is aligned with improvements to residential areas and their surroundings.
UMKM TO RECEIVE ORDERLY BUSINESS LOCATIONS:
Deli Serdang Regent dr. H.
Asri Ludin Tambunan emphasizes that the regional government will support UMKM by providing orderly business locations and official electricity connections. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Reliable Service for Official Customers
In addition to electricity access and legal certainty over land, Asri called for serious improvements in customer service for official electricity customers. He said there are still areas where residents experience repeated power outages, while certain activities along roads can receive electricity without significant disruption.
In his view, the situation needs to be evaluated so that people who have fulfilled all requirements as official customers can receive adequate and reliable electricity services.
"It should not happen that people who are official customers constantly experience disruptions while electricity use at locations that have not yet been properly organized continues without problems. We want fair and reliable electricity services," he stressed.
Asri believes electricity has a much greater role than simply providing lighting. A stable electricity supply supports children's education, household activities, UMKM operations and the economic growth of communities.
Therefore, he said, expanding electricity access should not end with the construction of power lines. The program must also ensure reliable supply, official electricity connections and orderly use of the infrastructure.
The Deli Serdang Regency Government, Asri said, is ready to coordinate with the Government of Sumatera Utara Province, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PLN to resolve various issues that could hamper the construction of rural electricity networks.
RURAL ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE: General Manager of PLN Unit Induk Distribusi Sumatera Utara Rizky Mochamad assures that PLN is ready to expand
rural electricity infrastructure while prioritizing the tangible benefits for communities. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Sumatera Utara Targets 100 Percent Electrification
The commitment is in line with efforts by the Government of Sumatera Utara Province, together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PLN, to complete the Rural Electricity Program and achieve a 100 percent
electrification rate.
The current electrification rate in Sumatera Utara stands at 99.86 percent. The government has set a target of ensuring that the entire population of Sumatera Utara has access to electricity by 2029.
Acting Secretary of the Government of Sumatera Utara Province Timur Tumanggor emphasized that access to electricity plays a strategic role in stimulating economic growth, supporting education and improving public welfare.
As part of the program's development, a total of 117 proposed locations for rural electricity projects have been submitted to the Sumatera Utara Energy and Mineral Resources Office. The government is using a coaching clinic forum to discuss and resolve various obstacles, particularly those related to permits and site preparation.
Timur said it was important to resolve problems at the initial stage so that electricity network construction could proceed according to plan. Close coordination among regional governments, the provincial government, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PLN is also necessary to ensure that every location meets the required technical and administrative conditions.
Meanwhile, Director of Electricity Supply at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Andriah Feby Misna said there were 106 rural electricity network locations in 23 regencies and cities across Sumatera Utara in 2026.
The government is preparing several strategies to expand access, including the development of distribution networks, the construction of communal solar power plants (PLTS Komunal) and the installation of individual solar power systems (PLTS Individual).
"Approximately 44 percent, or 47 locations, are located in the regions of Kepulauan Nias and Mandailing Natal," Andriah said.
Andriah also called on regional governments to assist in securing access roads to construction sites, clarifying coordinates, obtaining permits for areas located within forest zones and informing communities about the Right of Way (ROW).
Clarifying these aspects is important to prevent obstacles from emerging during electricity network construction. Regional governments must also inform communities about planned construction activities so that land preparation and network development can proceed smoothly.
Meanwhile, General Manager of PLN Unit Induk Distribusi Sumatera Utara Rizky Mochamad assured that PLN is ready to build infrastructure for
rural electricity supply. He emphasized that the success of the program should not be measured solely by the number of networks and electricity poles constructed.
According to Rizky, the most important indicator of success is how many people actually gain access to electricity and the tangible benefits they receive in their daily lives.
"The success of a village electricity program is not measured solely by how many poles and networks are built, but by how many people ultimately receive electricity and experience its concrete benefits," Rizky said in closing.
Through coordination among regional governments, the Government of Sumatera Utara Province, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PLN, the expansion of electricity access is expected not only to accelerate the achievement of a 100 percent electrification rate but also to ensure reliable electricity services for communities.
For
Deli Serdang, expanding electricity access is part of efforts to improve people's quality of life. At the same time, the regional government considers legal certainty over land, orderly land use, the legality of electricity connections and service quality to be essential elements in ensuring that basic infrastructure delivers sustainable long-term benefits.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala