17 community funds approved
The Energy Regulatory Commission has approved the establishment of 17 community development funds, with expectation that the approval for the remaining 21 funds should be reached within April.
Naruepat Amornkosit, deputy secretary-general of the ERC office, said that of total 17 funds, six are Type A which are entitled to annual contribution of over Bt50 million each from nearby power plants which occupy capacity of over 5,000 million units a year. The others are Type B, entitled to annual contribution of Bt1-Bt50 million from power plants with generating capacity of 100-5,000 million units.
Under the scheme, designed to win public supports for the expansion in the power generating industry, power plants are required to contribute 1-2 satang per unit to the funds, depending on types of fuels.
Since the contribution started in January 2011, it has exceeded Bt2 billion.
The money would be distributed for 11 development areas, including health, career, agricultural output, community business, education, religion, and culture. Eligible projects must win the funds' endorsement as well as comments from governors in respective provinces.
