The Prime Minister led the Cabinet meeting, focusing on the Energy Ministry's proposal to restructure electricity rates to support low users not exceeding 200 units, along with a request to borrow 20 billion baht from the oil fund. The signing to establish the “Economic Cabinet” is expected today. It will be signed today.
At 10:00 a.m. on 28 Apr 2026 GMT+7 at the Government House, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, arrived at Building 1 to chair the Cabinet meeting. When reporters asked about the progress on signing the Economic Cabinet formation, Anutin simply said, “It will be signed today,” before proceeding into the building.
For this Cabinet meeting agenda, the Energy Ministry proposed a new electricity rate structure, which will be submitted to the National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC) tomorrow (29 Apr) to take effect in the billing cycle from June onwards. The new electricity rates will cover 23.2 million households, divided into three main groups as follows.
1. The group using less than 200 units (main target group) focuses on assisting small electricity users consuming no more than 200 units per month, with a rate capped at 3 baht per unit. This benefits 23.2 million households, including 15.4 million households currently using less than 200 units and 7.8 million households using more than 200 units.
2. The group using 201–400 units (normal rate group) consists of households with moderate electricity consumption, charged the standard rate of 3.95 baht per unit. This group includes 4.6 million households.
3. The group using 401 units or more (pending rate adjustment) includes 3.2 million high electricity-consuming households. Their rate will increase from an average of 4.50 baht per unit to over 5 baht per unit, an increase of about 1 baht per unit. It is recommended that this group consider installing solar power systems as a cost-saving option.
Additionally, the Energy Ministry will propose the Cabinet approve in principle a loan of 20 billion baht from the Oil Fuel Fund Office without requiring a guarantee from the Ministry of Finance.
The Thai Chua Thai Plus project has not yet been presented to the Cabinet this week. The ministry is awaiting inquiries with the Comptroller General’s Department and the Budget Bureau on remaining funds available for the project, after which it will be submitted to the Economic Cabinet meeting next week.
However, reports indicate that Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has finalized the project details and prepared the funding sources. Over 20 million people will be eligible, with the government paying 60% and recipients paying 40%. Registration will open in May, with payments of 4,000 baht per person over four months, disbursed at 1,000 baht per month starting in June.
Regarding the 2026 budget funds that cannot be committed by 30 April, the amount will be determined to draft a budget transfer bill to allocate those funds to the project.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet will consider approval of revenue forecasts, expenditure policy, budget allocation, and budget structure for fiscal year 2027, based on resolutions from four economic agencies: the Ministry of Finance, NESDC, the Bank of Thailand, and the Budget Bureau.
Additionally, the Cabinet is set to approve Ms. Ploytale Laksameesaengchan as Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office.