Government House, "Pirapan" reveals that the Cabinet has approved the fixing of electricity prices at 4.18 baht until the end of 2024 - maintaining diesel at 33 baht until October 2024, stating that the draft energy amendment law is complete and is preparing to send it to the Council of State for review. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Pirapan Salirathavibhaga revealed that the Cabinet resolved to freeze the electricity price at 4.18 baht per unit and continued to extend measures to help vulnerable groups who use no more than 300 units of electricity per month at 3.99 baht per unit in the period from September to December, a total of 4 months. Because the price must be adjusted to be in line with the gas price every 4 months, it is necessary to adjust the electricity price every 4 months. Therefore, the next electricity bill will remain the same without change. Mr. Phiraphan confirmed that there is a way to fix the electricity price at 4.18 baht per unit, and no one will be affected, and no bu dget will be used, and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) will not bear the expenses. It is to receive the difference from the electricity bill to pay, which will be less because the electricity bill of 4.18 baht, EGAT has already received the money to pay off the debt from that part, which has been calculated and calculated in full in one installment. However, it is not necessary to pay the entire amount in one installment, but the difference will be paid to EGAT according to the electricity bill installment. Originally, EGAT calculated that the debt must be paid in one installment, but the debt payment does not have to be paid in one go. Paying the entire amount in one go will cause people to be burdened with debt. Therefore, it is not necessary to pay it all at once. Paying it in installments will have the same value. Mr. Phiraphan also said that the Cabinet meeting still fixed the price of diesel at no more than 33 baht per liter until October 2024 by using the Oil Fund measures firs t. As for the management of the gasoline group, Mr. Phiraphan said that he has always said that he is not satisfied with the oil mechanism in our country, which has been left for a long time and no one thinks of fixing it. Today, he is in the process of fixing it, which is almost finished. Therefore, he must stay with the original law for now. Currently, the draft law is finished. After that, he will send his own legal committee to review it again and send it to the Council of State to help review it. But now, the original draft law is finished. It will be used to solve the problem of oil prices that fluctuate every day and he never knows how much the cost is. As for the law that is being drafted, it will not be in time for the end of the diesel price freeze measure on 31 October. What should be done? Mr. Phiraphan admitted that it will not be in time. If we use the normal system, it will not be in time because this matter must be brought to the House of Representatives. But at least there is a law. And aft er this, it will be managed using the original law. But if there is a change, the system will be adjusted. 'It is confirmed that after October 31, the Oil Fund will be able to bear the burden, but the method may have to be discussed with the Ministry of Finance again on how to proceed. In the meantime, the old system will still be used, which is using money from the Oil Fund. Currently, the Oil Fund debt is in the red and is in debt of more than 100 billion baht because of the old law that did not facilitate. Therefore, it is necessary to amend the law,' said Mr. Pirapan. As for whether it is necessary or not, after October 31, 2024, to use excise tax to help support oil prices, Mr. Phiraphan said that it must be discussed again, but for now, the old system will be used. As for the new law, will there be an adjustment to the oil formula? He believes that this depends on the necessity of the situation. According to the current law, ethanol must be mixed until 2026. "This matter is considered to be in the pu blic interest and no one will interfere with the public interest. We have already discussed it with the Ministry of Finance and informed the Cabinet that there must be a new law," said Mr. Pirapan. Source: Thai News Agency