Throwing Punches in the Corner – Restructuring Electricity Rates for Whom?

The electricity rate restructuring policy continues to attract scrutiny, with officials still awaiting clarity on how the tiered pricing will be implemented. Energy Minister Eknath Prom-phanthisuk has confirmed that the first 200 units will cost 3 baht per unit, while the buyback rate for rooftop solar panels will increase to 2.20 baht per unit. Households consuming over 500 units will face progressive rates to subsidize those using under 200 units, with authorities recommending solar panel installation as a more economical solution. While this reasoning sounds plausible, deeper examination reveals serious questions about its feasibility.

The 200-unit threshold appears unrealistic at first glance. Simply running an air conditioner, air purifier, washing machine, and refrigerator normally already exceeds this limit. As for the 500-unit consumption level, not all households using that amount are wealthy—many are extended families living under one roof with nowhere else to go. Some homes house infants to elderly grandparents and bedridden patients requiring continuous electricity for medical equipment, not luxuries but necessities for survival.

The solar panel initiative also lacks clarity on financing sources and why it should burden ordinary people. Maintenance costs, battery replacements, and other expenses are unaddressed. Meanwhile, the government buys back power at 2.20 baht per unit only to resell it to consumers at 3-5 baht, but where does that profit margin go?

Looking at the profits of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and Provincial Electricity Authority—combined nearly 30 billion baht annually—citizens are left anxious wondering how much their bills will increase. They shoulder the burden alone, resigned to their fate.