Thailand: No 'backup' charge for home solar power users

Thailand: No 'backup' charge for home solar power users

Householders who produce their own solar power will not be charged a special
"backup" tariff if they also remain connected to the power grid, the
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) said on Friday.

Spokesman Saharat Boonpotipukdee was responding to reports by some media
outlets that a fee could be imposed on consumers who use rooftop solar
panels to supply some of their power needs.

He said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is considering a special
electricity rate for large commercial and industrial customers who produce
some of their own power but maintain access to the national grid.

This would not apply to households.

ERC spokesman Veerapol Jirapraditthakul said the tariff would target
commercial and industrial customers such as shopping malls or factories, not
small entrepreneurs or householders.

It was still not finally decided which groups would be required to pay the
fee.

With the cost of renewable energy decreasing, several large electricity
users had started producing their own power, but still also purchase power
from the electricity authority.

The special tariff was being considered to cover the cost of maintaining a
reliable power supply, Mr Veerapol said.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1274275/no-backup-charge-for-home-so
lar-power-users

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com