Tawee suggests an immediate 0.52 baht per unit electricity cost reduction, pointing out that the government favors monopolistic control of cheap Gulf of Thailand gas while leaving citizens to bear high prices.
On 27 March 2026, Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, leader of the Prachachat Party, posted on social media proposing ways to lower energy living costs for citizens. He stated that the government could immediately reduce electricity prices by 0.52 baht per unit without any subsidy budget if natural gas resources in the Gulf of Thailand were managed fairly.
Pol. Col. Tawee revealed inconsistencies in natural gas allocation, noting that the petrochemical sector currently has rights to access Gulf of Thailand gas (Erawan-Bongkot-Arthit fields) at a low cost of only 201 baht per million BTU (MMBTU). However, the electricity generation sector serving the public is forced to use a "Pool Gas" system that mixes domestic gas with imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) priced as high as 485 baht/MMBTU, resulting in an average price of 281 baht/MMBTU that power plants must pay.
"This is making citizens bear expensive costs while giving cheap resources to industry," Pol. Col. Tawee said. He explained that the 80-81 baht/MMBTU gas price difference is the root cause of the approximately 0.52 baht per unit electricity price increase. If the government dared to change policy to allow power plants to access Gulf of Thailand gas at the same price as petrochemical groups, it would immediately reduce the electricity burden on Thai people, prioritizing the public interest.