Incentives for Voluntary power shutdown
Large electricity consumers who shut down their power consumption during a certain period from March 27-31 will be paid Bt3 per kilowatt an hour of their savings, said the Energy Regulatory Commission.
ERC commissioner Viraphol Jirapraditkul said the Myanmar’s Yadana gas field was scheduled to shut down its production for nine days from March 25 to April 2 and that would reduce its gas flow to Thailand by 1,100 million cubic feet per day, affecting production from gas-fired power plants by 6,400 megawatt.
To minimise the impact from higher costs that will stem from the power plants having to shift to using higher-cost diesel oil during the period, ERC will introduce its so-called “demand response” measure to reduce power consumption during the period. Large power users nearby the Ratchaburi, Tri energy, and South Bangkok power plants, as well as those in Teparak, southern Thonburi, Bangplee, and in some central provinces who can cut their electricity consumption during peak hours from 9am to 10pm during weekdays from March 27-31, will be offered the Bt3 per kw and hour compensation.
The authorities have target to save 400MW of electricity from the measure, Viraphol said.
ERC has joined force the Federation of Thai Industries and the three state-owned power utilities to introduce the programme.
