Bangkok: The Prime Minister affirmed that he is making efforts to restructure electricity rates to make them more affordable, highlighting the conversion of solar power into financial savings. He aims to provide these benefits to the public by early June. The Prime Minister also commented on the future affordability of solar rooftops, drawing a comparison to the significant price drop in mobile phones over the years.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul addressed the issue of the new electricity pricing structure, which he claims will lead to reduced electricity bills for consumers. The Prime Minister explained that the initiative involves converting sunlight into money through solar power systems installed on rooftops. The government plans to purchase excess electricity generated by these systems for further distribution, marking a significant reform in the electricity system intended to benefit the public.
The Prime Minister noted that the affordability of solar rooftops hinges on supply and demand dynamics, analogous to the historical pricing trends of mobile phones. He reminisced about the high initial costs of mobile phones, which have since dramatically decreased. He assured that similar trends could be expected with solar rooftops, eventually becoming more accessible to the public.
When questioned about current electricity rates, the Prime Minister mentioned that the pricing is structured to be cheaper for the first 200 units consumed, priced at 3 baht per unit. This tiered pricing system aims to equitably distribute costs and benefits among consumers, in line with existing practices in Thailand.
Regarding public concerns about potential high electricity bills for April due to the ongoing billing structure changes, Mr. Anutin clarified that this matter is under the jurisdiction of the relevant agencies. He acknowledged that the adjustments may not be completed in time for the current billing cycle due to procedural requirements. However, he assured that efforts are being made to expedite the process, with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) actively working on implementing these changes. Additionally, he mentioned ongoing initiatives like the "Half-Price" and "Thai Help Thai Plus" schemes, which aim to provide financial relief to the public by early June. Mr. Anutin emphasized that they are striving to manage electricity bills effectively within their cyclical patterns while expediting the necessary reforms.