The People's Party urges the government to clearly state that oil reserves are lower than expected and that citizens must start conserving electricity and fuel, while presenting five immediate proposals.
On 4 March 2026, reporters noted that the People's Party's Facebook page posted that following the Middle East conflict between Iran and the United States, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul stated, “At this time, the situation is definitely not critical. There are still oil reserves available for use, not just 60 days. Thailand’s crude oil sources are not only from the Middle East but also from other regions.” Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy revealed on 1 March 2026 that Thailand’s domestic oil reserves only last 38 days, which is less than the public’s understanding of a 60-day reserve. The 60-day figure includes oil currently in maritime transit, so it does not mean that there is actually enough oil physically in the country for 60 days.
Therefore, the People's Party believes the government should sincerely communicate the true situation to the public to prepare for the crisis and has proposed measures to address the energy conflict situation as follows.
1. Campaign for citizens to begin conserving both fuel and electricity due to the risk of oil shortages. We must start saving energy now to prepare for a potential future energy crisis.
2. The government must lead by example and begin energy conservation immediately. Government agencies and state enterprises should implement Work from Home policies as much as possible to reduce fuel use in vehicles, cut electricity consumption in offices after 5 p.m., and set air conditioning temperatures in government offices nationwide to 26-27°C.
3. Disclose and adjust the Energy Contingency Plan transparently and fairly. Expedite the search for alternative energy import sources. The government and PTT must clarify whether they can promptly replace lost LNG supplies from Qatar with imports from other sources like Australia or the U.S., and how the increased costs will be managed.
They should also disclose the status of the oil fund and electricity subsidy budget. The government should explain how long the financial reserves to subsidize oil prices and electricity tariffs (Ft) can last during this crisis, rather than leaving the public to face shocking electricity bills the following month.
4. Truly reform the purchase system for solar power from citizens. Currently, the Net Billing system, where people can sell electricity to the government, has volume limits and no expanded quotas. The government must increase the purchase capacity from citizen solar power to reduce reliance on volatile natural gas power generation.
Additionally, develop the system to a true Net Metering model as used abroad. Change from “purchase price” to “unit offset” (real Net Metering), recording negative units when production equals consumption 1:1. This will immediately encourage solar installations without waiting for government subsidies.
Also, switch from a “permit” to a “notification” system (One Stop Service) for solar installations, since currently multiple approvals are needed (Energy Policy Committee, Energy Regulatory Commission, Electricity Authority, Public Works), causing long delays. The government should implement online notifications for installations below set sizes to speed processes and reduce corruption opportunities.
Promote tax incentives allowing individuals to deduct solar installation costs from personal income tax, easing initial investment burdens. This should be widely communicated to reduce dependence on LNG and foreign energy in the long term. This important step has not yet been undertaken by the government.
5. The government should negotiate with power producers who keep plants idle to reduce standby fees, helping to cap electricity prices that could otherwise impact the public’s cost of living in the short term.