The era of cheap electricity bills is over!

Thai Rath Edition

Aug 16, 2022, 06:45 a.m.

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20.3 million Thai households

This is the lucky number of electricity users.

To be healed from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) at the war against the government of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, although ordered to cancel a total of two sudden press conferences from the case of the ERC will announce the automatic variable electric charge (FT) hike, but it cannot stop the FT hike in any way.

causing from September 1 to December 31, in the electricity bill that the public will be notified is the FT fee must be increased by 68.66 satang (st.) per unit from the period of May. -August collected at 24.77 satang per unit, totaling 93.43 satang per unit.

That means that Thai people have to pay a total of 4.72 baht per unit of electricity from the May-August period when they pay only 4 baht per unit of FT and base electricity.

In such a case, it is a hot taro thrown from

The ERC returned to the hands of Mr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, the Minister of Finance, who will have to raise 7,000-9,500 million baht for the ERC to allocate to heal vulnerable groups of electricity users, as follows: 1. Help to reduce the burden of FT, similar to the May-August period, that is, if any household electric user uses no more than 300 units of electricity per month.

The FT will not rise to 93.43 satang per unit as announced by the ERC, but the user's FT fee will be charged at 1.39 satang per unit, which is the same as the periodic FT. month

Jan.-April ago

2. Extension of assistance

For electricity users in units of 301-500 units per month

by setting the ceiling for storing FT values ​​in a ladder

Which will be concluded at what rate from the rate of 93.43 satang per unit?

How much budget will be allocated first?

Therefore, it can be used to calculate the proportion of steps.

At the same time, those who use more than 500 units of electricity per month

will have to accept the blood-sucking condition of paying high electricity bills

without any negotiation

because they will not be helped by such measures

When asked why the FT has to be raised for the period of September-December, which is considered the highest price in Thailand's history, it is because the ERC has to manage to bring such money. Said to gradually repay to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), which recently had to bear the burden of FT on behalf of the people, totaling 110 billion baht.

Such burden comes from the cost of electricity production.

both natural gas

Liquefied natural gas (LNG), diesel fuel, and others have continued to rise in price since the end of last year.

Including the interest rate must be used to gradually pay the financial institution that

EGAT borrows to enhance investment liquidity

including repairs and maintenance of power plants, construction of new power plants

Purchasing electricity from private producers, constructing and maintaining power grids.

that must be carried out every year

Recently, EGAT has received approval from the Cabinet (Cabinet) to borrow 25,000 million baht to add liquidity, which may not be enough to bear the burden of fuel from now on.

In addition, EGAT has also issued an urgent letter explaining that the Election Commission cannot bear such burdens any longer.

because the FT and profit of

EGAT is supervised by

ERC to have sufficient income for investment and business administration

And profits each year are still being remitted into the country's income of tens of billions of baht per year.

EGAT is ready to comply.

Although the latest loan

when combined with the previous loan amount

Close to the ceiling that can be recovered.

Therefore, if the debt burden

EGAT accumulates as a soil mask for pig tails even though it receives additional government guarantees from now on.

But what will follow is

EGAT as a state enterprise engaged in energy business

will be decreasing the credibility of financial institutions

because in fact the loan

There must be a gradual payment of principal and interest in installments.

complete and continuous

To be classified as a grade A debtor

If EGAT's financial position is shaken, it is like walking on a thread in the eyes of lenders that is not good in the long run.

In such cases, there is no need for clairvoyance.

It is enough to see him ominous the cruelty of the FT in 2023 that it will inevitably have to increase more than this year for the whole year.

Due to the price of LNG that has to be increased according to the needs of users around the world

Thailand will have to import 1.8 million tons next year to generate electricity, 40% of the total fuel imported from this year, only 700,000 tons, followed by natural gas because the supply in the Gulf of Thailand is insufficient.

While natural gas from Myanmar production is uncertain due to many factors.

While the price of diesel fuel still fluctuates.

and also have to look at the trend of the baht at that time that will calculate the FT in each period, etc.

In the end, villagers like us can only sit and roll their eyes.

find money to pay the cost of living

increasing every day

Inevitably.

Kriengkrai Punpetch

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