Free electricity volume to be cut to 65 units
The Energy Regulatory Commission is proposing a cut in free electricity volume to the poor, from 90 units a month to 65 units, which will sharply reduce the subsidy.
Boonsong Kerdklang, a commissioner, said that the decision bases on the Interior Ministry's study on poverty line, which define those with monthly income below Bt5,000 as the poor.
"The change will reduce the number of eligible households from 7 million to 2 million, and subsidies will fall from Bt12 billion a year to Bt3.6 billion. At this amount, industrial plants and large building owners may be waived from contribution which is now set at 12 satage per unit," Boonsong said.
The proposal comes at a time when the ERC expects fuel tariffs to rise next year, as the tariffs are based on energy prices in the past six months.
