Attawit Suwanpakdee affirms that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has full authority to reduce electricity and gas prices. He urges the ERC to courageously restructure the energy sector instead of shifting the burden to the public, advising them to fully perform their duties for the country's greatest benefit.
On 12 June 2026, Mr. Attawit Suwanpakdee, a member of parliament from the United Thai Nation Party, spoke during a parliamentary session about the performance of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). He questioned why the ERC, despite its supreme regulatory authority over energy, has failed to effectively push for a reduction in electricity prices.
Attawit pointed out that whenever the ERC proposes adjustments to the variable electricity tariff (Ft), it usually results in maintaining the current price or increasing it. He cited the period when Mr. Peeraphan Salirathavibhaga, leader of the United Thai Nation Party, served as Minister of Energy and successfully lowered the electricity price from 4.70 baht per unit to 3.94 baht per unit by seriously restructuring energy costs. He also mentioned that the idea of subsidizing the first 200 units of electricity usage is a stopgap measure, since consumers paying over 2,000 baht per month still face high bills while the government has not addressed the root cause by restructuring energy costs.
Attawit proposed that the ERC should boldly reform the energy structure by using low-cost natural gas from the Gulf of Thailand as the main base for electricity generation for Thai people, liberalize imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to increase competition, and push for renegotiations to reduce availability payments in power purchase agreements with private companies. As the regulator overseeing the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), he urged the ERC commissioners, especially those nearing the end of their terms, to fully perform their duties for the utmost benefit of the public and the nation.