Data Center Board Approves 5 Categories and 2 Electricity Rates

Thairath•Politics•7d ago

Reader Briefing

The Data Center Policy Committee has approved the classification of data centers into five categories based on electricity consumption with two pricing tiers.

•The Data Center Policy Committee approved 5 data center categories based on electricity usage levels.
•Two electricity rates will be implemented, with clean energy being cheaper than natural gas-produced electricity.
•The Ministry of Interior will manage urban planning and building specifications for data centers.
•Domestic data center businesses are estimated to use up to 20,000 megawatts of electricity.

Overview

•On October 1, 2026, Chaichanok Chidchob revealed the outcomes of the Data Center Policy Committee meeting.
•The Data Center Policy Committee approved the division of data centers into 5 categories based on electricity usage volumes.
•The Data Center Policy Committee integrated Net Zero requirements into data center business operations.
•Chaichanok Chidchob stated that electricity rates will be split into 2 tiers according to the National Energy Policy Council's Type 9 resolution.
•There are currently 26 data centers providing services in the country.
•The 5 categories of electricity usage are defined as 0-1 MW, 1-5 MW, 5-50 MW, 50-200 MW, and over 200 MW.
•The Subcommittee on Civil Engineering and Urban Planning, chaired by Polpee Suwannachawee, will meet on October 6, 2026.
•Polpee Suwannachawee stated that buildings serving as data centers must display signs identifying them as such.

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Key Quotes

Chaichanok Chidchob

"Previously, there was a proposal for 3 types of data centers, but I proposed 8, and the meeting decided on 5 for clarity, while also including Net Zero for data center businesses."

จากเดิมมีการเสนอประเภทดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์ เป็น 3 ประเภท แต่ตนได้เสนอเป็น 8 ประเภท แต่ที่ประชุมเคาะที่ 5 ประเภท เพื่อให้เกิดความชัดเจน ขณะเดียวกันได้ให้บรรจุเรื่อง Net Zero ไว้กิจการดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์ด้วย

Key Entities

Person

Chaichanok Chidchob(ไชยชนก ชิดชอบ)ℹ️

Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

Polpee Suwannachawee(พลพีร์ สุวรณฉวี)

Deputy Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Engineering and Urban Planning.

Organization

Data Center Policy Committee(คณะกรรมการนโยบายการประกอบกิจการดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์)

The committee that approved the 5 categories of data centers and the inclusion of Net Zero.

National Energy Policy Council(คณะกรรมการพลังงานแห่งชาติ)

The body whose Type 9 resolution governs the electricity rates for data centers.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for urban planning and building characteristics for data centers.

Subcommittee on Civil Engineering and Urban Planning(คณะอนุกรรมการด้านโยธาและผังเมือง)

The subcommittee chaired by Polpee Suwannachawee meeting on October 6, 2026.