The Ministry of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission agreed, at their joint meeting yesterday (Monday), to freeze the electricity rate for August after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed concern that the increase in the fuel tariff (FT), which will drive up the price of electricity, will impact a lot of people.

As for the electricity rates for September to December, Energy Permanent Secretary Kulit Sombatsiri said that the government will discuss, with the commission, measures to ease the burden on the public, especially low-income households, in case electricity rate is allowed to increase.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said today that subsidies have to be provided by the government in case the fuel tariff is frozen.

Meanwhile, the Fuel Fund Executive Committee has agreed to freeze the retail price of diesel at 34.94 baht/litre for the 8th consecutive week, to ease the burden on consumers.

Wisak Wattasap, director of the Oil Fuel Fund’s Office, said that the decision to freeze the retail price is in line with the decline in crude oil prices on the global market, reflecting a drop in demand because of the anticipated economic slowdown, especially in the United States and Europe, towards the end of the year.