Lights out for the PM’s chances as people get shocked by sky-high electricity bills in the post

[webfact]

The PM, General Prayut Chan ocha (left), has been busy campaigning in the last few weeks but at home, as members of the public open their electricity bills, there is shock and disbelief at an unprecedented hike in charges in a country where electricity has been made available at a relatively competitive price with Thai households and consumers shielded by generous government subsidies during the pandemic era. (Right) Thai Sang Thai Party leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan has promised to launch a lawsuit against the government due to its electricity generating policy which has paid private firms to generate excess supply for the electricity grid and to reduce the tariff substantially if her party gets into government after the May 14th poll.

 

by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor

The hot weather and the absence of subsidies have led to Thai voters receiving an unpleasant shock just weeks before they go to the polls. The impact cannot be positive for General Prayut and his coalition government. A further substantive issue has emerged concerning Thailand’s energy generation policy and the use of private firms to shore up generation capacity to the electricity grid giving the country a large reserve supply to meet surges.

 

The odds of General Prayut Chan ocha returning to power after the May 14th General Election were cut in the last week as the Thai public received shockingly higher electricity bills in the post. Even as spokespeople for the Prime Minister’s Office defended the government and pointed to the kingdom’s record high temperatures in March and April as the real culprit while rushing through a small 1.5% reduction, there emerged controversy over new power generation contracts with the private sector to secure an electricity reserve of up to 50 or 60% of demand. This has led former minister and Thai Sang Thai Party leader, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, to threaten legal action against the government. She also promised that any administration she took part in would have a plan to lower the tariff charged per unit from ฿4.77 per unit now to ฿3.50 by renegotiating electricity generation contracts with private firms.

With the General Election less than three weeks off now, the government and Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha have been hit with what could prove to be a killer blow which could spell lights out for his chances of reelection.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/04/25/lights-out-for-the-pm-general-election-sky-high-electricty-bills-public-shock/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-04-27

 

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[daveAustin]

Not really his fault but any bad news for his campaign is good news. 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

With the General Election less than three weeks off now, the government and Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha have been hit with what could prove to be a killer blow which could spell lights out for his chances of reelection.

We live in hope, this guy is on Skid row.

[ezzra]

He didn't have a chance to be re-elected anyway, high electricity bill or not.

[bdenner]

One thing for sure, charges are rising sharply.

Here in the rice paddies of upper Isaan gone from 4.344 to 5.4098 Baht. The "red shirts" are really pissed off!

[jacko45k]

I am open to a refund next month and I might persuade my Mrs and her mother to vote for him! (No, probably not).

[zzaa09]

54 minutes ago, ezzra said:

He didn't have a chance to be re-elected anyway, high electricity bill or not.

Does it truly matter who gather majority - it'll all amount to the same circus anyway.

[sammieuk1]

He seems to generate enough static to keep the country going every time his mouth moves ????

[OneMoreFarang]

Now I finally understand why previous Thai elections were in December.

 

It's sad that Thai people now make Prayut responsible for the climate. It's always hot in every April in Thailand.

But then, I am not surprised. Thai's also blame the PM when the international oil price rise.

TiT

 

[MJCM]

57 minutes ago, bdenner said:

One thing for sure, charges are rising sharply.

Here in the rice paddies of upper Isaan gone from 4.344 to 5.4098 Baht. The "red shirts" are really pissed off!

Charges have been the same but the discounts have eased off. When getting an average price of 5,4 THB per unit, you are using (I guess) around +/- 600 Units per month. Did you notice it is very hot outside and this thus means your aircons / fridge have to work MUCH harder to reach the set temperature.

 

BIL was also complaining about his bill, when asked how many fans he had running, he said 7 at a time, and when asked how many fans he would run during the cold months, he said 0.

 

Look here for a bit more detail about the electricity BILL.

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

One cannot but sympathise with the poor chap and his noble followers.

 

The cost of keeping the cold drinks on ice, ready for distribution for the spontaneous demonstration of support to the military must have skyrocketed. And let us not even consider the cost of the bulk refrigeration of the cut flowers to hand out to the soldiers!

[newnative]

This is the Thai version of US mayors being voted out of office due to the perception of not handling a big snow storm well.   Let's hope it does contribute to him losing badly.

[brucegoniners]

He'll arrange to win.

 

[NanLaew]

5 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Not really his fault but any bad news for his campaign is good news. 

But it really IS his fault as PM and more importantly, Chairman of NERC, the regulatory authority that dictates what can be gouged from people's wallets. This to support an unsustainmable reach-around that EGAT has with his government. The heatwave only served to expose the fleecing by his government's accounts payable.

[Peterphuket]

I think the PM read this post too, I see so many avatars with 'sad' and 'confused'

[jacko45k]

Just now, Peterphuket said:

I think the PM read this post too, I see so many avatars with 'sad' and 'confused'

Someone with an agenda I believe.....can people with posting bans perhaps still do this?

[RichardColeman]

Now imagine all the cost if Thailand went mostly Electric car 

[Muhendis]

5 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Not really his fault but any bad news for his campaign is good news. 

It actually is his fault.

The government owns most of PEA

[gunner1]

Can't really get worked up about this as I remember the unexpected brown-outs, the unexpected power failures, due to high demand. The government seems to have corrected most of the problems, so if it cost more it is worth it. but the old standard, bite the hand that feeds you is alive and well.

 

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, MJCM said:

Charges have been the same but the discounts have eased off. When getting an average price of 5,4 THB per unit, you are using (I guess) around +/- 600 Units per month. Did you notice it is very hot outside and this thus means your aircons / fridge have to work MUCH harder to reach the set temperature.

 

BIL was also complaining about his bill, when asked how many fans he had running, he said 7 at a time, and when asked how many fans he would run during the cold months, he said 0.

 

Look here for a bit more detail about the electricity BILL.

 

 

Yes it is hotter and more appliances are consuming more but do you understand the ins and outs of the mercurial "Ft" calculation and it's interaction with other banded discounts?

 

...and why EGAT is broke?

[itsari]

1 hour ago, MJCM said:

Charges have been the same but the discounts have eased off. When getting an average price of 5,4 THB per unit, you are using (I guess) around +/- 600 Units per month. Did you notice it is very hot outside and this thus means your aircons / fridge have to work MUCH harder to reach the set temperature.

 

BIL was also complaining about his bill, when asked how many fans he had running, he said 7 at a time, and when asked how many fans he would run during the cold months, he said 0.

 

Look here for a bit more detail about the electricity BILL.

 

 

I and others are not complaining about consumption . It is the price per kilowat hour that the complaints are coming from . I am currently paying with taxes 5.55 baht which is a substatial increase considering the gas price has reduced considerably . I mention gas as that is how Thailand produces electricity 

[matchar]

 

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Now I finally understand why previous Thai elections were in December.

 

It's sad that Thai people now make Prayut responsible for the climate. It's always hot in every April in Thailand.

But then, I am not surprised. Thai's also blame the PM when the international oil price rise.

TiT

 

The hot weather has just made the rip-off unit price more noticeable.

The problem is Thailand has a massive oversupply of electricity of 50-60% and private power companies are making billions for being "available" to produce electricity that nobody uses or needs.

Meanwhile the government keeps signing new contracts with private companies to construct new power stations...so who's fault is that?

[n00dle]

2 hours ago, MJCM said:

Did you notice it is very hot outside and this thus means your aircons / fridge have to work MUCH harder to reach the set temperature.

captian obvious speaks.
 

[tomazbodner]

3 hours ago, bdenner said:

One thing for sure, charges are rising sharply.

Here in the rice paddies of upper Isaan gone from 4.344 to 5.4098 Baht. The "red shirts" are really pissed off!

That "red shirts" mostly pay nothing for electricity.

[OneMoreFarang]

14 minutes ago, matchar said:

 

The hot weather has just made the rip-off unit price more noticeable.

The problem is Thailand has a massive oversupply of electricity of 50-60% and private power companies are making billions for being "available" to produce electricity that nobody uses or needs.

Meanwhile the government keeps signing new contracts with private companies to construct new power stations...so who's fault is that?

I have to admit I don't know enough about Thailand's power supply, power grid, which companies are involved, etc. 

I don't remember anybody complaining in December, when it wasn't so hot. Now, in April, the ACs will obviously use a lot more electricity to keep us cool. I am pretty sure that was the same over the last 20 years when I paid my electricity bills. Nobody should be surprised by that. But obviously it's a wonderful opportunity for the opposition to blame the government for that. 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 minute ago, tomazbodner said:

That "red shirts" mostly pay nothing for electricity.

They like it hot.

 

[riclag]

No sweat off my back! Im living large!  Imop

[ftpjtm]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It's sad that Thai people now make Prayut responsible for the climate.

Prayut may not be responsible for the climate, but he and the Thai government are responsible for stupid energy policies. 

 

We recently had solar installed at our house. We were shocked to learn that at least in our jurisdiction it is illegal for us to supply the grid with excess electricity generated by our installation. We are only allowed to supply our own home.

 

This is different from most parts of the world where the opposite true, and electric grids are happy to take advantage of the tens of thousands of small rooftop "power plants" that tend to make the most electricity when demand is highest.

 

Truly idiotic energy policy and predictably the grid failed when heavy AC usage overloaded it a few days ago.

[h90]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Now I finally understand why previous Thai elections were in December.

 

It's sad that Thai people now make Prayut responsible for the climate. It's always hot in every April in Thailand.

But then, I am not surprised. Thai's also blame the PM when the international oil price rise.

TiT

 

Well Thailand has plenty of gas in themself. So theoretical if it is true (which I would not be sure) they could do without gas imports.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, ftpjtm said:

Prayut may not be responsible for the climate, but he and the Thai government are responsible for stupid energy policies. 

 

We recently had solar installed at our house. We were shocked to learn that at least in our jurisdiction it is illegal for us to supply the grid with excess electricity generated by our installation. We are only allowed to supply our own home.

 

This is different from most parts of the world where the opposite true, and electric grids are happy to take advantage of the tens of thousands of small rooftop "power plants" that tend to make the most electricity when demand is highest.

 

Truly idiotic energy policy and predictably the grid failed when heavy AC usage overloaded it a few days ago.

So you didn't inform yourself and you somehow assumed that the regulations are what you imagine and not what they are. And then you blame Prayut for that.

Yeah, sure. 

 

Here is a hint: Lots of things are different all over the world. Don't assume...