Homes without house registration qualify for lower power bills
Eligible homes on temporary meters get residential power rates from September, with energy charges capped at THB3 per unit for the first 200 units.
Thailand’s Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved lower electricity charges for eligible homes without permanent house registration, replacing the temporary-supply tariff with the same rates applied to ordinary residential properties.
The change takes effect from September 2026 electricity bills, reducing the energy charge from THB6.8024 per unit to no more than THB3 per unit for the first 200 units. Consumption above that level will be charged under the standard residential tariff’s progressive bands.
Poonpat Leesombatpiboon, secretary-general of the ERC Office, said the regulator had been reviewing charges for households using temporary electricity meters because the existing arrangement was unfair. Some affected users were on low incomes but had to pay more for electricity than households with permanent registration.
Review leads to standard residential rates
The ERC initially asked electricity utilities to review their charges. The utilities subsequently proposed a rate of THB4.4217 per unit, equivalent to the highest residential energy-charge band under the previous tariff structure.
The regulator then raised the issue with Energy Minister Akanat Promphan. It was brought before the National Energy Policy Council on July 15, 2026, when the council resolved that the rates should be reviewed to bring them into line with those for permanent residential properties.
The ERC subsequently adopted the policy and instructed utilities to reclassify qualifying homes without permanent house registration under the standard residential tariff.
At least six months of payment history required
To qualify for reclassification, electricity must be used for residential purposes, and the household must have a record of paying electricity bills for at least six months.
Poonpat said many homes without permanent house registration had been charged temporary-supply rates for more than 10 years, despite using electricity for permanent residential purposes.
Their consumption was not temporary in the same way as electricity used at construction sites, he said, adding that the change was intended to restore fair treatment for these households.
Households urged to check September bills
Poonpat urged residents using temporary meters who had paid electricity bills for at least six months to check their bills from September onwards and confirm that they had been moved to the residential category.
Under the revised arrangement, the energy charge for the first 200 units will not exceed THB3 per unit. Electricity consumed from the 201st unit onwards will be charged progressively according to the applicable residential tariff bands.
