The Energy Regulatory Commission may have to increase the price of electricity for the September-December period to between 4.65 baht/unit and 6.01 baht/unit, from the current rate of 4.18 baht/unit, said Poonpat Leesombatpiboon, secretary-general of the Office of Energy Regulatory Commission (OERC).
He said that the OERC will, however, hold public hearings via its website, to gauge opinions about the price rise, from Friday through July 26.
There are three price options proposed by the OERC. 6.01 baht/unit (up 44%), 4.92 baht/unit (up 18%) and 4.65 baht/unit (up 11%).
Poonpat said that the baht currency has weaken against the Greenback, to 36.63 baht per dollar (down by 1.29 baht per dollar) for the period from May to August.
In the meantime, he said the spot price of LNG, which is a main source fuel for electricity production, has increased by US$3.2 per million BTU and the price is tending to increase further, as winter will set in in more northern and southern regions at the end of the year, which will push up demand.
He said the fuel tariff (FT) for the last quarter of the year may be adjusted to between 46.83 and 182.99 satang/unit, which means the electricity charge will have to be adjusted to 4.65-6.01 baht/unit.
