Thai Expert Explains High Electricity Bills in Thailand

[webfact]

 

By Adam Judd

 

National — Mr. Praiphon Koomsub, former Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Thammasat University, explained an increase in the Thai power bills recently.

He said the increase actually started at the end of 2022, but people did not acknowledge it until March to April when the weather became significantly hotter, leading to an increase in electricity consumption and thereby a surge in power bills.

 

Moreover, at the beginning of this year, the government adjusted the fuel tariff rate, which further increased the price.

 

The war between Russia and Ukraine also plays a part, as it causes fuel prices, especially crude oil and natural gas, to skyrocket. Thailand relies on natural gas for 60% of its electricity production, even though it can produce some gas from the Gulf of Thailand. However, the country still needs to import a significant amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has increased by 20% currently due to the war.

 

There is also an issue with the cost of paying for excess reserve electricity.

 

Praiphon also said even though excess reserve power is not sold into the system, electricity consumers still have to bear the burden of paying for it to private power companies. This is another factor that contributes to the high cost of electricity, although not as much as the first causes mentioned, he said.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/04/30/thai-expert-explains-cause-of-high-electricity-bills/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-05-01

 

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[ezzra]

The war between Russia and Ukraine is the catalyst and the cause of many negative changes and disturbances in the world other than the increase in prices, which many of us do not connect the dots,

and shortages in the supply of many commodities that govern our everyday lives is the worst. 

[Bim Smith]

If the last three years have taught me anything is that as soon as the word "expert" is mentioned I switched off. Absolutely nothing to do with OPEC and others cutting production then. In addition price caps on russian sea bound crude should mean prices are lower. 

[Andycoops]

Another Junta cock up then as usual, consumers paying for private companies to hold reserves that aren't used. 

No doubt the private companies that built the power plants are all cronies of the Too and his incompetent bunch of Muppets.

[EdrigoSalvadore]

I now pay 9 THB/unit, And my 40 sqm room had bill if 3537 THB last month. It used to be about 2000. Painful.

 

I never put my air-conditioning below 25,

[Phil1964]

Of course in a sunny country it makes no sense to have a massive state investment in solar power and battery storage?

I mean why use an abundant, free natural resource, ie: sunshine to power all the A/C units in the country. And yeah I know, when its dark there's no power generation, so therefore you either generate electricity from natural gas as per the present method, or you instal battery storage solutions.

Of course though these Thai generals don't want imports flooding their domestic market, so they lump on massive import duties which simply makes the hardware required to generate electricity way expensive!

 

Inward looking military inbreds!

[tandor]

Plenty of LNG gas just down the road in Australias' North West Shelf.

(Maybe Thailand buys from there, i have no idea)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_West_Shelf

Edited April 30, 2023 by tandor

[rwill]

If those private power companies can't sell thier power they should shut down instead.

[ExpatOilWorker]

12 minutes ago, Phil1964 said:

Of course in a sunny country it makes no sense to have a massive state investment in solar power and battery storage?

I mean why use an abundant, free natural resource, ie: sunshine to power all the A/C units in the country. And yeah I know, when its dark there's no power generation, so therefore you either generate electricity from natural gas as per the present method, or you instal battery storage solutions.

Of course though these Thai generals don't want imports flooding their domestic market, so they lump on massive import duties which simply makes the hardware required to generate electricity way expensive!

 

Inward looking military inbreds!

Meanwhile in Thailand.....

The reservoir is now home to the world’s largest hybrid solar-hydropower project. Installed on the surface of the water are 144 000 separate solar panels, the equivalent of 100 football fields. The 45 MW of peak power the project can produce complements the existing dam operations, which can generate an additional 36 MW, and provide electricity across three provinces in eastern Thailand.

[hotchilli]

Always an opportunity to make the consumer pay more.

[Zack61]

29 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Meanwhile in Thailand.....

The reservoir is now home to the world’s largest hybrid solar-hydropower project. Installed on the surface of the water are 144 000 separate solar panels, the equivalent of 100 football fields. The 45 MW of peak power the project can produce complements the existing dam operations, which can generate an additional 36 MW, and provide electricity across three provinces in eastern Thailand.

And reduces evaporation I would imagine thus preserving water - another valuable asset.

 

[sidneybear]

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

Another Junta cock up then as usual, consumers paying for private companies to hold reserves that aren't used. 

No doubt the private companies that built the power plants are all cronies of the Too and his incompetent bunch of Muppets.

It's the same everywhere. As it says in the article, the Ukraine war has caused large increases in fuel prices, which are set internationally. Perhaps Thailand should build nuclear power stations? ????

[RichardColeman]

55 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Meanwhile in Thailand.....

The reservoir is now home to the world’s largest hybrid solar-hydropower project. Installed on the surface of the water are 144 000 separate solar panels, the equivalent of 100 football fields. The 45 MW of peak power the project can produce complements the existing dam operations, which can generate an additional 36 MW, and provide electricity across three provinces in eastern Thailand.

Great , but what effect does all that plastic and metal have on the fish over time ?

[ikke1959]

Of course they have an explanation that doesn't hold...Ukraine/ Russian war, did rise the the fuel prices indeed, but in the western news these prices are almost back to normal again.

In the hot weather indeed the airco and fridges have to work harder to keep things cool and that will cost more energy. But where is the solar energy which is free with so much sunshine, and wind energy in Thailand? and why is that not more promoted?? I am willing to put solar panels on my roof, but where can you find good information and installation companies??

In my opinion it is the greed of the electricity companies who raising prices for bigger profits and use excuses for nothing and surely are not happy if many people change to green energy. 

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, Phil1964 said:

Of course in a sunny country it makes no sense to have a massive state investment in solar power and battery storage?

I mean why use an abundant, free natural resource, ie: sunshine to power all the A/C units in the country. And yeah I know, when its dark there's no power generation, so therefore you either generate electricity from natural gas as per the present method, or you instal battery storage solutions.

Of course though these Thai generals don't want imports flooding their domestic market, so they lump on massive import duties which simply makes the hardware required to generate electricity way expensive!

 

Inward looking military inbreds!

You make a good point about solar power, but at the same time I'm not aware of any tropical country that has invested massively in it. Very odd. I am ready to be educated to the contrary, though.

[Bangkok Barry]

6 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Of course they have an explanation that doesn't hold...Ukraine/ Russian war, did rise the the fuel prices indeed, but in the western news these prices are almost back to normal again.

The government has announced lower prices from May until, I think, September before another review.

[ikke1959]

2 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The government has announced lower prices from May until, I think, September before another review.

Election promotions....

[sammieuk1]

I think I was the expert that the Thai expert must have been talking to for the statement of obviousness ???? 

[Dazinoz]

1 hour ago, Phil1964 said:

Of course in a sunny country it makes no sense to have a massive state investment in solar power and battery storage?

I mean why use an abundant, free natural resource

Have you ever researched how much this "FREE" natural resources costs to actually make, replace and dispose of the items needed to capture this FREE resource?

 

So many people just think sun, wind, wave energy is free, and it is, but the cost to mine, transport, manufacture, instal, dispose of when depleted of the items is much higher than most people think.

 

It's like turning on your light switch at home, viola instant power. I worked in the control room of a power station for 10 years and, again, people don't know what's involved in producing this instant power.

[Bangkok Barry]

2 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

4 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The government has announced lower prices from May until, I think, September before another review.

Election promotions....

Does that matter, if prices fall? Every government in the world makes promises before elections. May starts today so the reduction is in place from now.

[mikebell]

The five families are still wrangling over who gets to control the solar power market.

[Mickeymaus]

2 hours ago, EdrigoSalvadore said:

I now pay 9 THB/unit, And my 40 sqm room had bill if 3537 THB last month. It used to be about 2000. Painful.

 

I never put my air-conditioning below 25,

You pay this to the landlord. It has nothing to do with the price he really pays. There are laws that regulate how much more he can charge. Thailand has many good laws but often no (good) law enforcement... 

[Chongalulu]

Well I’d much rather be paying my energy bills here than on my house back in the U.K. (which I rent out) . The council tax alone is 12000 baht per month and the utility bills will be that again (plus 50%) ! ???? My tenants pay that… 

[itsari]

The Thai expert appears as credible as a Thai autopsy 

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

You make a good point about solar power, but at the same time I'm not aware of any tropical country that has invested massively in it. Very odd. I am ready to be educated to the contrary, though.

You are correct, only India came out in the top 5. Behind China, USA, Japan and Germany. 

[GreasyFingers]

2 hours ago, Phil1964 said:

Of course in a sunny country it makes no sense to have a massive state investment in solar power and battery storage?

I mean why use an abundant, free natural resource, ie: sunshine to power all the A/C units in the country. And yeah I know, when its dark there's no power generation, so therefore you either generate electricity from natural gas as per the present method, or you instal battery storage solutions.

Of course though these Thai generals don't want imports flooding their domestic market, so they lump on massive import duties which simply makes the hardware required to generate electricity way expensive!

 

Inward looking military inbreds!

Do you look at the sky during wet season?

[koolkarl]

Climate emergency is the main reason electric bills are soaring and it will get a lot worse as long as the world keeps burning fossil fuels.  Politicians love to brainwash it's citizens.

[Surasak]

2 hours ago, sidneybear said:

It's the same everywhere. As it says in the article, the Ukraine war has caused large increases in fuel prices, which are set internationally. Perhaps Thailand should build nuclear power stations? ????

Just think of the chaos!!!???

[BangkokReady]

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

and shortages in the supply of many commodities that govern our everyday lives is the worst.

What about all the innocent people dying?  Isn't that bad?

[DJ54]

Simply a way to offset the reduction they gave commercial rate… somebody has to make up the difference…. 555 kinda joking..