The Energy Policy Committee decided today to reduce the price of electricity for households which consume no more than 200 units per month to 3 baht/unit and approved the electricity buyback scheme for surplus electricity produced by solar rooftops at 2.20 baht/unit, as endorsed by the Cabinet yesterday.
About 20 million households will benefit from the reduced price, with the first such billing scheduled for June.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has been assigned by the committee to make use of the 369 million baht from the bypass gas fund to reduce the fuel tariff (FT) for May through August, to subsidise the price of electricity for households which consume less than 200 units/month.
Energy Minister Akanat Promphan said the ERC also agreed to promote the installation and use of rooftop solar panels by agreeing to purchase the surplus electricity generated for 10 years.
Details and regulations covering this buyback scheme are expected to be completed in June, said the energy minister, adding that the three electricity producers, namely the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), have been assigned to improve the grid, transmission systems and power sub-stations to accommodate electricity from rooftop solar installations without disrupting national power security.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet emphasised the need for efficient energy use and conservation by setting a 20% reduction target in energy consumption by all state agencies. All street light bulbs will be replaced with LEDs, in parallel with the installation of more solar-powered lighting systems.
The Cabinet also agreed to promote the production and use of electric cars in the country, as well as the installation of additional public charging stations, battery rotation stations, the promotion of bio energy through the recycling of farm waste and the promotion of the use bio fuel by the transport sector.
