Bangkok: The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has clarified that public electricity rates are directly influenced by government policy, specifically a resolution from the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) that exempts up to 10% of consumption in certain areas from levies. The ERC emphasized its role in urging electricity authorities to expedite the installation of electricity meters to mitigate the financial burden on the public.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Poolpat Leesombatpaiboon, Secretary-General and spokesperson for the ERC, highlighted the government's policy focus on reviewing public electricity expenditure management to ensure fairness for consumers. The ERC is committed to supporting this policy and overseeing the operations of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to ensure they comply with legal and policy guidelines set by the NEPC, protecting the interests of electricity users.
Dr. Poolpat explained that the regulations governing public electricity usage are not new but are part of a continuous policy that originated with a Cabinet resolution in 1987. This policy has been revised multiple times by the NEPC to reflect changes in electricity usage patterns and the national context.
In recent years, the ERC has actively monitored and promoted expedited operations in this area, particularly encouraging the MEA and PEA to install public electricity meters since 2023. This initiative aims to facilitate accurate and transparent monitoring and classification of public electricity usage, in line with the NEPC resolution. The MEA aims to complete this process by 2026, while the PEA is currently implementing it nationwide. The ERC Office is committed to closely monitoring and expediting the progress of these operations.
Dr. Poolpat further stated that if there is a policy change that revokes the previous NEPC resolution, allowing the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to collect public electricity fees, the ERC is prepared to ensure compliance with the new NEPC resolution.