Start Saving Power Now, Pm Urges Public And Business

[Lite Beer]

Start saving power now, PM urges public and business
The Nation on Sunday

Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday admitted there is a risk of blackouts in some areas of Bangkok and the South on April 5 - the expected peak date for electricity usage - and called on all households and businesses to save energy now, to ensure there is reserve power for use on that date.

The PM urged the public to have confidence in the government's measures to tackle the expected power-supply crunch in April, when natural gas supplies from Myanmar will be disrupted due to routine maintenance of the Yadana gas field pipeline from April 5-14.

On her weekly TV programme "Yingluck Government Meets the People", the prime minister said the government was seeking additional power sources to ease the impact of a possible shortage in April.

The government has also launched an energy-conservation campaign to reduce the impacts of the shutdown, she said. State enterprises and government offices have been asked to take steps to save energy such as turning off lights for one hour a day and raising the setting on their air conditioners to 25 degrees Celsius. Factories were encouraged to suspend production on April 5.

Yingluck said the government had prepared for the worst by reserving bunker oil and diesel to run supplementary power plants. It may also have older power plants currently closed for repairs produce electricity during the period.

Myanmar's gas field shutdown would reduce the daily power supply by 6,400 megawatts, as one fourth of the amount of natural gas supplied to Thailand for electricity production will be cut. Each year, Thailand's gas supply from the Yadana field is suspended for pipeline maintenance during Songkran, when less natural gas is consumed. But this year the closure will begin on April 5, before the April 12-16 holidays.

Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) Assistant Governor Wiwatchai Ratanarat said the agency would discuss plans to tackle the looming power-supply crisis on Wednesday with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Provincial Electricity Authority and related agencies. The MWA uses electricity amounting to 350 million kilowatts per year (worth Bt1.09 billion a year) to produce 5 million cubic metres of tap water per day for households in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan around the clock.

Ayutthaya's provincial industry office plans to discuss measures to handle the power shortage in April with businesses at five industrial estates. Office head Prayoon Tingthong said Ayutthaya had many factories at its industrial estates and thus a high demand for power. A power plant in Wang Noi district was the main supplier, producing over 2,000MW per year. Plus, there is a power plant in the Rojana Industrial Park. He said the factories should be able to prepare themselves for the power-supply drop and plan their production management accordingly.

Surat Thani chamber of commerce president Suthat Lertmanorat said many businesses in the province were prepared for the supply drop in April and had reserved gasoline for electricity generators that could be used temporarily in case of emergency.

-- The Nation 2013-02-24

[Hornell]

Almost every government office and a great many company ones I have been into in this country over the past 15 years have had the air conditioning set at 18 degrees and the staff all wander around in light anoraks or pullovers. Surely this is one way that a great deal of power could be saved? Reset the air conditioners to 24 or 25, the staff won't need to wear extra clothing which they won't subsequently have to wash saving yet more energy. Ah, but haven't I heard this suggested many times before.....!

[Ricardo]

But how does saving power now, when there is sufficient gas and generating-capacity, help the forecast shortage, in a couple of months' time ?

[MESmith]

But how does saving power now, when there is sufficient gas and generating-capacity, help the forecast shortage, in a couple of months' time ?

I think everyone is expected to charge their batteries, to be ready for April

[slapout]

The PM, is confused between the difference between megawatts and megamillions. She has had talks with the Finance minister and the Science & techonolgy, Minister, she is still looking for EGAT to provide input/suggestions, but they are out looking for fuel sources for the plants that are shut down.

[GentlemanJim]

Are they creating all this fuss and panic over nothing, so that when nothing actually happens, the Government can claim to have instigated successful policies and counter measures to ensure that they did not leave Thailand without electricity, despite the pesky people from Myanmar only giving 8 months notice of the maintenance work. Seems the Gov are starting to use Psyops to further manipulate the people. Maybe Mr Happy Toilet now has a candle factory and him and his Dad want to create a panic demand for a few hundred Mill worth of candles.

[Halion]

If in fact this clown was sincere and genuine concern was on her mind perhaps she could have started this a little earlier as they have had all the pertinent facts for many months.

Nice plan to let them claim to have done something when as usual they sit on their fat ass's and do bugger all.

Not one iota of interest in the Thai public outside how they can scam them.

[IAMSOBAD]

1. Stop having hundreds of taxis wasting fuel by driving around. Set up taxi stands and enforce taking the NEXT in line with a meter.

2. Stop 90 day reporting and cut down all the wasted energy.

3. Stop with killing all the trees by reducing by 99% all the paper photo copies at immigration. You have computers and scanners.

4. Use simple common sense about how darn cold air on is set. Its freezing in most indoor places.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

[Locationthailand]

Yep, can anyone point me to the savings bank of power so I can store my electricity? With all the bureaucratic waste of Thailand Inc, this is a really stupid article originated by another wasteful politician.

[Locationthailand]

1. Stop having hundreds of taxis wasting fuel by driving around. Set up taxi stands and enforce taking the NEXT in line with a meter.

2. Stop 90 day reporting and cut down all the wasted energy.

3. Stop with killing all the trees by reducing by 99% all the paper photo copies at immigration. You have computers and scanners.

4. Use simple common sense about how darn cold air on is set. Its freezing in most indoor places.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Your list is waaaay too short.

[55Jay]

I get the impression reading this that these guys seem to love "reacting" to a crisis to demonstrate their crisis management abilities, when any reasonable person would look at the root cause and say they are negligent in their duties to begin with. They apparently know this maintenance will take place every year, hell even know the month, but the article just makes it sound like they are scrambling around creating seat of the pants back up plans?

On a small and more boring scale in comparison, we had been waiting for our household goods delivery (which did arrive at the house on 19FEB). For the previous month and a half, been telling the wife we must empty the kitchen (or at least start making a dent) of current stuff to make room for all our stuff that we KNOW is coming, and my eyeball estimated we likely had more stuff than the kitchen cabinets could hold, thus we need to buy and/or fabricate some storage shelves in advance (now) to get ready. Play sound of crickets here.

So the huge container on a truck showed up and after unloading, wife was miffed as it took her 1-1/2 days to vacate the current kitchen stuff before we could unpack and put away our stuff. Then she discovered all our stuff wouldn't fit in the existing cupboards and announced we should buy some shelf units, or build some, but a carpenter wasn't available on such short notice and we needed more storage area now!

[Methuselah]

Out of interest,without wishing to challenge ministerial statements,how does one reserve power?

[dominique355]

Energy conservation is totally unknown here, starting with building regulations for residential houses (insulation of walls, windows, doors), and office buildings. Even in so-called luxury buildings each room has its own air/con compressor on the balcony. Heat recovery from buildings is totally unknown, just like use of solar energy for warm water and/or electricity.

The government also missed the excellent opportunity to get rid of all the old-age gasoline guzzlers with their new car subsidize scheme. Instead of subsidizing first-time owner, they should have subsidized substitution of old polluting gasoline guzzlers with new cars, possibly even new technology imports (not just out-dated domestic production cars). I know, not related to the electricity generation problem now at hand, but symptomatic for the government's attitude towards energy conservation and protection of the environment.

[Misterwhisper]

The moment Yingluck is switching off in consideration of the looming energy crisis all the airconditioners that peobably cool down the many rooms in her luxurious mansion to Arctic temperatures, we might actually start heeding her call to conserve electricity. Don't hold your breath, folks. Calling on everybody else to do what you yourself are not doing is one of the oldest ploys in the book.

[A Member]

Almost every government office and a great many company ones I have been into in this country over the past 15 years have had the air conditioning set at 18 degrees and the staff all wander around in light anoraks or pullovers. Surely this is one way that a great deal of power could be saved? Reset the air conditioners to 24 or 25, the staff won't need to wear extra clothing which they won't subsequently have to wash saving yet more energy. Ah, but haven't I heard this suggested many times before.....!

Exactly, we are heading into the hot season and I'm sure the PM and her cabinet, politicians and civil servants will be setting a good example of power saving but ike obeying the traffic laws it's for someone else to do

[surangw]

less useless gov. announcements would save a lot of energy.

[OzMick]

When you don't know what you're talking about, anything is possible.

[theblether]

The PM is entitled to warn people about a power shortage due to routine maintenance.

This should be used as an opportunity to drive home power saving suggestions, some of which are listed above, however it should also mark a true inventory of the security of the power supply in Thailand.

The current Ostrich Technique is really working.

[Carioca]

Not caring a whit about whether I know what I am talking about but why is the thai governments responses so much more idiotic than other nations. Maybe they don't say it as well, but I don't see their statements any more stupid than others.

To wit, not whit, it costs more in resources to recycle a can or bottle than to make a new one. So where is the savings. Recycling is only about running out of rent money for landfills.

[Meetoo]

Carioca, on 25 Feb 2013 - 06:55, said:

Not caring a whit about whether I know what I am talking about but why is the thai governments responses so much more idiotic than other nations. Maybe they don't say it as well, but I don't see their statements any more stupid than others.

To wit, not whit, it costs more in resources to recycle a can or bottle than to make a new one. So where is the savings. Recycling is only about running out of rent money for landfills.

Why does this have to be done in April , one of the hotest months of the year...?? Why could they not schedule it for November or December or even January when it is cooler and people don't need AC's

[Thai at Heart]

Carioca, on 25 Feb 2013 - 06:55, said:

Not caring a whit about whether I know what I am talking about but why is the thai governments responses so much more idiotic than other nations. Maybe they don't say it as well, but I don't see their statements any more stupid than others.

To wit, not whit, it costs more in resources to recycle a can or bottle than to make a new one. So where is the savings. Recycling is only about running out of rent money for landfills.

Why does this have to be done in April , one of the hotest months of the year...?? Why could they not schedule it for November or December or even January when it is cooler and people don't need AC's

Because in April, traditionally, the whole country goes on holiday to throw perfectly clean water down the drain for 4 days.

Rather tragically, we have a drought in half the country at the moment, and no sign of significant rain. I wonder if ANYONE is going to tell the people that throwing millions of cubic metres of perfectly clean water down the drain isn't a particularly ecologically good practice.

Cue, extensive water shortages, in late April.

[Soutpeel]

2. Stop 90 day reporting and cut down all the wasted energy.
3. Stop with killing all the trees by reducing by 99% all the paper photo copies at immigration. You have computers and scanners.

Why didnt you add, if they let farangs own land this would save energy as well....

1. Stop having hundreds of taxis wasting fuel by driving around. Set up taxi stands and enforce taking the NEXT in line with a meter.
2. Stop 90 day reporting and cut down all the wasted energy.
3. Stop with killing all the trees by reducing by 99% all the paper photo copies at immigration. You have computers and scanners.
4. Use simple common sense about how darn cold air on is set. Its freezing in most indoor places.
Etc. Etc. Etc.

Edited February 25, 2013 by Soutpeel

[OzMick]

I do like her expression in the photo. Reminds me of a rabbit caught in the headlights of a speeding car.

Edited February 25, 2013 by OzMick

[Pimay1]

I do like her expression in the photo. Reminds me of a rabbit caught in the headlights of a speeding car.

And this is one of the few times I have seen a photo of her with her mouth not wide open.

[Nickymaster]

It's abvious waht the tactics of PT are. Scare people and then come up with a solution:

Are they creating all this fuss and panic over nothing, so that when nothing actually happens, the Government can claim to have instigated successful policies and counter measures to ensure that they did not leave Thailand without electricity, despite the pesky people from Myanmar only giving 8 months notice of the maintenance work. Seems the Gov are starting to use Psyops to further manipulate the people. Maybe Mr Happy Toilet now has a candle factory and him and his Dad want to create a panic demand for a few hundred Mill worth of candles.

They are creating all this fuss because Thaksin and Hun Sen are waiting for a big fish. That would certainly be their biggest achievements...ever.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/611098-thailand-hopes-to-explore-natural-gas-in-overlapping-zone/

[55Jay]

I do like her expression in the photo. Reminds me of a rabbit caught in the headlights of a speeding car.

And this is one of the few times I have seen a photo of her with her mouth not wide open.

yeah, like the Obama visit - lol.

[BTempleman]

That is the most intelligent question to date! Perhaps the government will issue families large batteries to "store up" for the impending crisis. LOL Electricity cannot be stored like rainwater. It is generated to meet demand.

Batman

[aussiebebe]

That is the most intelligent question to date! Perhaps the government will issue families large batteries to "store up" for the impending crisis. LOL Electricity cannot be stored like rainwater. It is generated to meet demand. Batman

actually pumped-storage hydroelectricity is the best way to store grid energy. Thais could use solar panels to directly drive water pumps - this will never happen due to corruption and general retardation, but....

if you want a laugh, visit Thanya - a so-called 'eco-mall' on Srinakrin - totally retarded. Well, okay my son loved the outdoor play area, but otherwise a stupid idea. They have some good design ideas like escalators that shut off when unused, wall plants to provide natural shade, sloped roofs to funnel rainwater onto plants and the buildings are on 'stilts' to allow air flow underneath. However, the morons who designed Thanya have created a series of mini office-towers connected with outdoor walkways - the shop are enclosed with AC but everywhere else is open. You can't find anything, none of the shops are eco - just the usual Chester's grill and Coffee world, and every time you walk in, the cool air rushes out. I even saw an open-air restaurant with an outdoor AC unit - how wasteful! They'd be better off having a traditional mall like Central and insulating it well with solar panels on the roof. Thais will never go green.

[Buchholz]

Are they creating all this fuss and panic over nothing, so that when nothing actually happens, the Government can claim to have instigated successful policies and counter measures to ensure that they did not leave Thailand without electricity, despite the pesky people from Myanmar only giving 8 months notice of the maintenance work.

.

Your points becoming realized:

Fears allayed over April power outage

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/622706-fears-allayed-over-april-power-outage-thailand/#entry6160640

.

[55Jay]

Are they creating all this fuss and panic over nothing, so that when nothing actually happens, the Government can claim to have instigated successful policies and counter measures to ensure that they did not leave Thailand without electricity, despite the pesky people from Myanmar only giving 8 months notice of the maintenance work.

.

Your points becoming realized:

Fears allayed over April power outage

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/622706-fears-allayed-over-april-power-outage-thailand/#entry6160640

.

That, or Yingluck sounded the alarm bells way too early, and now her staff has made her look pretty ridiculous.