Bangkok: Varawut confirmed that the electricity tariff restructuring will not affect the industrial sector. He stated that there will be no two-tiered electricity rates, which would increase costs for the industrial sector, and advised businesses to register their electricity usage correctly according to its intended purpose.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, announced after the National Energy Policy Committee meeting, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, that concerns raised by the industrial sector regarding the new electricity tariff restructuring and its potential impact would be addressed. He confirmed that discussions with the Ministry of Energy confirmed that the progressive rate adjustment would only apply to households and residential areas, and would not burden the industrial sector, shops, or restaurants with the increased costs.

Mr. Varawut stated that the Federation of Thai Industries had previously expressed concerns that reducing electricity rates for the public might increase costs for small, medium, and large businesses that use large amounts of electricity. However, the latest resolution clearly confirms that businesses will continue to pay electricity at the same rate without change, and there will be no system where the industrial sector pays a higher rate per unit than residential areas. Electricity bills will be paid based on actual consumption, with higher rates applied for higher usage.

However, a warning has been issued to residential properties that have been converted into small restaurants or cafes: if they have not registered their electricity usage correctly according to their intended purpose and their electricity consumption increases to the higher progressive tariff tier, they may not benefit from this electricity cost reduction measure.