Attawit calls for ERC dissolution over static electricity rates

MGR Online•Politics•9d ago

Reader Briefing

Dr. Attawit Suwanphakdee proposes the dissolution of the ERC after the government's 18-billion-baht street lighting subsidy failed to result in lower electricity bills for citizens.

•The government pays approximately 18,000 million baht per year for public street lighting to remove this cost from citizens' bills.
•The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) proposed maintaining the electricity rate at 3.95 baht per unit for September–December 2026.
•Dr. Attawit Suwanphakdee suggests dissolving the ERC and transferring its duties to the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC).

Overview

•The government bears the cost of public street lighting amounting to over 18,000 million baht per year.
•The government subsidy removes approximately 0.10 baht per unit from the electricity bills of the public.
•The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) presented four options for electricity rates for September–December 2026, three of which were increases and one was to maintain the rate at 3.95 baht per unit.
•Dr. Attawit Suwanphakdee stated that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) should have immediately reflected the reduced costs in the electricity rates.
•Dr. Attawit Suwanphakdee observed that the government's share of electricity production has fallen below 30%, while the private sector controls over 70%.
•Dr. Attawit Suwanphakdee proposes dissolving the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) because its results contradict public expectations regarding the protection of energy users' interests.
•Dr. Attawit Suwanphakdee suggests transferring the mission and personnel of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) to align policy and supervision.

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Key Entities

Person

Attawit Suwanphakdee(อรรถวิชช์ สุวรรณภักดี)

Former MP of the United Thai Nation Party who criticized the ERC regarding electricity rates.

Organization

United Thai Nation Party(พรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ)ℹ️

The political party previously associated with Dr. Attawit Suwanphakdee.

Energy Regulatory Commission(กกพ.)

The organization responsible for regulating energy businesses and protecting energy users, which Dr. Attawit Suwanphakdee suggests should be dissolved.

National Energy Policy Council(คณะกรรมการนโยบายพลังงานแห่งชาติ)

The body that Dr. Attawit Suwanphakdee suggests should absorb the missions and personnel of the ERC.