The Prime Minister criticized media for naming large companies involved in community solar projects, declaring his hatred of specification locking. He advised small operators to report any unfair practices to relevant agencies and affirmed his understanding of honest earners who make a living legitimately, and his disdain for unfairness in the sector. He said, “I hate specification locking, and if small operators see unfairness, they should report it to the concerned authorities immediately.” ,
At 13:15 on 28 Oct 2026, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, addressed reports by some media outlets disclosing names of operators registered with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) or Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) involved in community solar installations. The list included several major companies, such as Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Public Company Limited. The Prime Minister responded by asking who was criticizing. When a reporter said some media had revealed the information, he asked which media, and the reporter replied that several media outlets had shared the information.
Prime Minister Anutin continued, saying it was like what he had said before—collecting bits of data here and there and then making unfounded claims. He had asked the PEA and MEA about the company list. He clarified that he was not accusing all media but referred to those deliberately stirring trouble by releasing the entire vendor list of approved contractors. If they were reasonable, they would understand that large companies could not be hired to install just two solar panels per house. The vendor list includes companies qualified to bid for large-scale solar farm projects of hundreds of megawatts, similar to the Department of Highways’ vendor lists. Having a vendor list does not guarantee contracts. However, when they saw names like Gulf, Sino-Thai, and other big firms, they only talked about them and ignored smaller names, leading to baseless assumptions about who got which contracts. This kind of behavior is unacceptable for honest business.
“Nowadays, if you have information, I have information too. You can’t deceive the public like this. I urge professionalism. The media must communicate accurate information to the public, not write without knowledge and understanding,” the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister stated this firmly.
When asked about small operators’ complaints that qualification criteria favored large companies, the Prime Minister said the government insists on fairness and justice, setting qualifications fairly. He questioned who the small operators were and why they could not participate. He added that there are channels for complaints and appeals, and the government is ready to listen to all sides. Since this concerns household electricity installation and systems, it is essential that installers and equipment meet standards to prevent hazards like overheating and fire. Therefore, those undertaking installations must pass general standards set by government agencies, not just the PEA and MEA.
He further said that if anyone sees unfairness or injustice, many channels remain open—for example, reporting to the Comptroller General’s Department, filing complaints to relevant agencies, or if corruption is suspected, reporting to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Auditor General, or the Department of Special Investigation. While other issues may be handled casually, this one must be addressed properly. He assured readiness to act.
“I affirm, and have said since I became Minister of Interior, that specification setting must not be used to favor anyone. I have seen people suffer from this, and I hate it. That is why I am here—to fix what I despise. I experienced it myself in the private sector. If asked whether I will retaliate, yes, if it involves corruption, harassment of entrepreneurs, and honest earners—I will retaliate because I have been wronged before. Today, overseeing policy and operations, I will not allow such practices,” the Prime Minister said.
When asked if strict qualifications were set to prevent contractors from abandoning work, Anutin said that while abandoning work is an issue, it is impossible for any one party to provide solar installations to 1 million households. He said he was unaware of the specific requirements but believed the PEA and MEA governors had seen how he handled similar issues when he was newly Minister of Interior before becoming Prime Minister, restoring fairness and reclaiming state losses, with some cases ongoing in court. He advised not to worry and welcomed accusations to be tested, but asked not to claim specification rigging as he was well aware and knew how to counter such tactics. He emphasized that in agencies he directly oversees, such things do not pass. For agencies he does not directly supervise, he encouraged anyone who sees favoritism toward certain operators to report it. He pledged fairness and said he does not tolerate such practices.