The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved electricity bill reductions for September to December after removing the hidden street lighting cost burden that consumers have carried for 30 years, resulting in a 6 satang per unit bill reduction. Households using no more than 200 units will pay no more than 3 baht per unit.
Mr. Poolpat Leesombatpaiboon, spokesperson for the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) He revealed that the ERC concluded the public consultation on proposals to revise residential electricity rates with a progressive tariff: for the first 200 units, no more than 3 baht per unit, excluding the automatic fuel adjustment charge (Ft) and value-added tax (VAT). It also removed public electricity expenses (street lighting) from the general consumer base rate. The ERC will inform the three electricity authorities—Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)—to proceed. This will affect electricity bills from September to December, granting households using up to 200 units per month the right to pay no more than 3 baht per unit.
Meanwhile, by removing public electricity expenses (nationwide street lighting) from the base rate calculation for all consumer groups, the ERC reduced rates by 6 satang per unit, previously a hidden cost shared by all consumers for 30 years, totaling 18 billion baht annually. After deducting this 6 satang per unit hidden cost, users consuming 201-400 units per month will pay 4.15 baht per unit, down from 4.22 baht, a 6 satang reduction. Users consuming over 400 units will pay 4.35 baht per unit, down from 4.41 baht.
“Separating public electricity charges from general consumer bills is because the ERC has revised the Electricity Development Fund laws and regulations to collect money from new sources, including data center users, consumers with direct electricity purchase contracts, funds from reduced additional purchase rates (adder), and community solar projects. These funds will be used to subsidize public street lighting costs.”