Energy Price Structure Overhaul Set for 60-Day Results
A government energy reform task force has launched a 60-day overhaul of Thailand's fuel and electricity pricing, with civil society groups demanding transparency on refinery profits and proposing to halt fuel surcharges amid soaring energy
Panteep Puavpongphand, Rosana Tositrakul, and representatives from the Consumer Council, Watchdog Foundation, Thai Energy Reform Network, and civil society groups held their first joint session with the Ministry of Energy to restructure energy pricing. A 60-day working timeline was established per Energy Minister Anucha Prom-on's directive to analyze data from government, private sector, and civil society sources.
Panteep noted that some fuel prices have skyrocketed to 4 baht per liter, far exceeding the previous 1.85-baht ceiling. He proposed temporarily suspending fuel fund collections and redirecting refinery windfall profits instead of taking on a 200-billion-baht loan. The group also flagged biofuel subsidies, noting palm oil prices at 37 baht per liter versus diesel at 31 baht, costing the fund 454 million baht daily in compensation.
On electricity, the group urged halting tiered pricing structures until base costs are reduced, specifically targeting reductions in the Adder charge and standby payments. They called for accelerating Net Metering solar rooftop systems to help households recover installation costs faster, currently limited to Net Billing under 5-25 year contracts.
The working group demanded transparency on previously classified trade secrets, including crude oil manifests, refining yields, and the net profits of six refineries from the past three years. Subsequent meetings are scheduled for May 22 on fuel and biofuel funds, June 5 on gas reforms, and June 19 on solar rooftop net metering and final recommendations.
