Staying in a private villa or apartment in Bali gives you a lot of freedom, but it also comes with a unique local experience: managing your own electricity.
Most rental properties in Bali use a prepaid electricity system operated by PLN (Indonesia’s state electricity company). If you hear a high-pitched beep coming from a small box on your wall, don’t panic! It just means your electricity meter is running low on credit.
Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to check your credit, buy electricity tokens, and load them into your meter.
How to Check Your Remaining Electricity Credit
Before buying a token, it is a good idea to check how much electricity credit you have left.
You can check this directly on the digital meter box attached to your wall:
Look at the screen on your physical meter box.
On most modern meters (like Hexing, Itron, or Glomet), the remaining balance in kWh is already displayed directly on the main screen.
If the main screen displays other information, try pressing “07” followed by the Enter button (the green key at the bottom right) to display your remaining kWh balance.
If your balance drops below 20 kWh (or around 5 to 10 kWh on some models), the meter will start making a loud beeping sound to warn you that it is time to top up.
What You Need Before You Buy
Before heading out or opening an app, you need one crucial piece of information: Your Meter Number (ID Pelanggan).
Look at the electricity meter attached to your wall.
You will see an 11 to 12 digit number listed near a barcode or on a sticker.
Snap a photo of this number with your phone so you always have it handy.
Option 1: The Easiest Way (Convenience Stores)
If you don’t have local banking apps or mobile wallets, buying your token in person is the most straightforward method.
Steps to buy at Indomaret or Alfamart:
Walk into any Indomaret or Alfamart branch (they are on almost every street corner in Bali).
Go straight to the cashier and say: “Saya mau beli token listrik” (I want to buy an electricity token).
Show them your Meter Number / ID Pelanggan photo.
Choose your amount. Tokens usually come in nominals like IDR 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, or 500,000.
Pay with cash or a card (cash is usually faster for small transactions).
The cashier will print a paper receipt. Do not throw this receipt away!
Option 2: The Digital Way (Mobile Apps)
If you have local e-wallets like OVO, Gopay, or Dana, or if you use e-commerce platforms like Tokopedia or Shopee, you can buy tokens in seconds without leaving your villa.
Steps to buy online:
Open your preferred e-wallet or shopping app.
Search for the PLN or Tagihan / PLN Prepaid menu.
Select Token PLN (Prepaid).
Enter your 11 to 12 digit Meter Number.
Select the amount you want to buy and complete the payment.
Once payment is successful, check your transaction history or digital receipt to find your 20-digit code.
How to Input the Token Code into Your Meter
Once you have your receipt or digital voucher, look for a 20-digit number printed on it. This is your electricity token code (STROOM/TOKEN).
Step-by-step keying process:
Go to the physical meter box on your wall.
Carefully type the 20-digit code using the keypad on the meter.
Double-check the numbers on the meter screen as you type. If you make a mistake, press the backspace/clear button (usually the red or yellow key at the bottom left).
Once all 20 digits are entered correctly, press the Enter key (usually the green button at the bottom right).
If the screen displays “BENAR” or “ACCEPT”, your balance has been successfully added, and the beeping sound will stop.
If it displays “GAGAL” or “REJECT”, wait a few seconds and try typing the 20 digits again carefully.
Quick Tips for Vacationers
How much should you buy? For a standard 1 to 2 bedroom villa with air conditioning running continuously, IDR 100,000 to 200,000 usually lasts a few days to a week depending on your usage.
Stop the beeping temporarily: On some meter models, typing “45630” and pressing Enter will temporarily mute the low-balance alarm for a short period while you go out to buy a token.
Ask your host: If the meter shows an error message like “PERIKSA”, don’t try to force it. Contact your villa host or property manager immediately, as this usually indicates a technical issue with the meter wiring.
