Recommendation follows high prices
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will start lowering the fuel tariff (Ft) next month following a recommendation by a subcommittee responsible for its calculation.
According to Khomgrich Tantravanich, secretary-general of the ERC, the new rate will result in a seven-satang reduction in the price of electricity, from 4.77 baht a unit to 4.70 baht.
Mr Khomgrich said that the next ERC move would be issuing the adjustment guidelines for Egat, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, and the Provincial Electricity Authority ahead of next month’s billing cycle.
Regarding recent complaints about high electricity bills, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri yesterday cited a 36% increase in the reserve margin last year due to the global pandemic as one possible cause.
However, the Ukraine war caused the global energy price to increase yet again, causing the Ft rate to increase.
The government did its best to help those with lower incomes with their bills as well as subsidising certain ailing business sectors, said Mr Anucha.
In related news, water rates are set for their first hike in 23 years following a steep 15-20% jump in supply and infrastructure costs.
According to Manich Pan-aim, governor of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA), a 20-30% increase in the price of electricity, as well as other increasing costs, have forced the authority to reconsider the unit rate in order to maintain its own liquidity.
Mongkol Wanlayasewee, governor of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA), added that it might take the authorities at least two months to submit the request to the incoming cabinet.