Attawit calls for ERC dissolution over electricity rates

Matichon•Politics•21d ago

Reader Briefing

MP Attawit Suwanpakdee proposes the dissolution of the Energy Regulatory Commission for failing to lower electricity rates for citizens.

•Attawit Suwanpakdee urged the dissolution of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on August 4.
•The ERC proposed four electricity rate options for September - December 2026, none of which included a rate reduction.
•The government pays 18,000 million baht annually to remove street lighting costs from citizen bills.
•Attawit Suwanpakdee suggested moving ERC staff to the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC).

Overview

•Attawit Suwanpakdee posted on Facebook on August 4 calling for the dissolution of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
•The government pays 18,000 million baht annually to cover street lighting costs previously embedded in citizen bills for nearly 40 years.
•The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) held public hearings from July 13 to 20, 2026, regarding electricity rates for September to December 2026.
•The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) proposed four options for electricity rates, three of which were increases and one which maintained the rate at 3.95 baht per unit.
•The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) was established in 2008 to control and regulate energy prices.
•Attawit Suwanpakdee stated that over the past 10 years, the state's share of electricity production has fallen below 30%, with 70% held by the private sector.
•Attawit Suwanpakdee argues that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has failed its duty to protect the interests of energy users regarding service rates.
•Attawit Suwanpakdee proposed merging the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) staff into the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) to complete the agency's operational capacity.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Attawit Suwanpakdee

"Street lighting costs of 0.10 baht have already been removed from electricity bills, with the state paying 18,000 million per year, but the ERC did not reduce electricity rates, still proposing 3.95 per unit. The ERC should be dissolved now."

เอาไฟถนน ออกจากบิลค่าไฟ 0.10 บาทได้แล้ว โดยรัฐจ่ายให้แทนปีละ 18,000 ล้าน แต่ กกพ. กลับไม่ลดค่าไฟ ยังเสนอหน่วยละ 3.95 เท่าเดิม ควรยุบ กกพ.ได้แล้ว

Key Entities

Person

Attawit Suwanpakdee(อรรถวิชช์ สุวรรณภักดี)

A party-list MP of the United Thai Nation Party.

Organization

United Thai Nation Party(พรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ)ℹ️

The political party to which Attawit Suwanpakdee belongs.

Energy Regulatory Commission(คณะกรรมการกำกับกิจการพลังงาน)

An organization established in 2008 to control and regulate energy prices.

National Energy Policy Council(คณะกรรมการนโยบายพลังงานแห่งชาติ)

A body that handles policy and directives.

Law

Energy Industry Act(พระราชบัญญัติการประกอบกิจการพลังงาน)

The law stating that the Energy Regulatory Commission must protect the interests of energy users regarding service rates.