Bangkok: The National Energy Policy Office (NEPO) has announced a significant policy shift by lifting the solar rooftop quota, enabling an unlimited purchase of solar power. This development marks a substantial increase from the previous cap of 90 megawatts, now allowing increments of 500 megawatts at a time.
According to Thai News Agency, the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) has introduced this measure to transform rooftops into power plants, enabling residents to sell electricity back to the government at a rate of 2.20 baht per cubic meter. These changes are part of broader reforms aimed at encouraging clean energy use and reducing living costs for the public. Mr. Ekanat Promphan, Minister of Energy, highlighted that the NEPC's decision to remove the solar purchase cap aims to eliminate existing barriers for those interested in solar installations. This initiative is expected to foster greater use of rooftop solar power for both personal consumption and grid contributions.
Residents participating in the electricity purchase program will benefit from streamlined permit processes, with solar installations for self-consumption being fast-tracked within 7 days, and those selling electricity back to the grid completed within 30 days. The Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, plans to introduce financing options for solar panel installations, ensuring that monthly payments remain lower than traditional electricity bills. Moreover, the government is exploring projects to offer free solar panel installations, with the electricity authority selling generated power back to homeowners at a reduced rate, easing their financial burden.
Additionally, the NEPC has approved an updated progressive electricity tariff structure designed to lower costs for residential consumers. The new tariff ensures that the first 200 units of electricity are priced at less than 3 baht per unit, benefiting over 21 million households, or more than 90% of the country. This restructuring is intended to reflect current living conditions without cross-subsidizing the industrial sector and will be implemented over four years to maximize fairness for the public.