Discounts on Electricity Fees to Be Proposed

BANGKOK, Aug 22 (TNA) – The Committee on the Energy Policy Administration (CEPA) will this month seek the cabinet’s approval for progressive discount rates on electricity fees for the people who consume 300-500 units per month. Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said after chairing a meeting of the committee that the households that did not use more than 300 units of electricity per month would receive a discount of 92.04 satang per unit for four months from September to December. The people formed a vulnerable group of electricity users who were affected by the rising power tariff component in electricity fees, he said. The electricity users who consumed 301-500 units of power per month would have progressive discount rates from 15% to 75% from September to December. The discounts would cover about 80% of electricity users nationwide and 89% of household users, Mr Supattanapong said. He estimated the discounts would cost the state about 2 billion baht per month or 8 billion baht altogether during the four-month-long period. (TNA)