PUBLISHED : 19 Mar 2026 at 05:48
NEWSPAPER SECTION: Business
WRITER: Yuthana Praiwan
Small businesses and households are being urged to reduce their reliance on the state electricity grid and adopt solar power solutions, as global energy price volatility threatens to drive up costs, despite Thailand’s capped power tariffs, according to solar firms.
Caretaker energy minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon recently announced a temporary ceiling of 3.88 baht per kilowatt-hour for the period from May to August.
But industry analysts warn that rising fuel prices, driven by the conflict in the Middle East, will eventually push electricity costs higher.
Oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have been disrupted by the conflict, tightening global supply and inflating prices.
New Energy Plus Solutions, a solar panel importer and installer, is calling on the incoming government to expand public access to solar technology.
The company said that self-generation is the most sustainable way for households and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to shield themselves from future energy shocks.
The appeal comes as parliament prepares to vote on a new prime minister on March 19, paving the way for a new cabinet.
Before the House was dissolved in December, the Anutin Charnvirakul administration had already announced incentives, including tax breaks for 90,000 households installing rooftop panels and plans for solar-powered water pumps across 700,000 rai of farmland.
Treerat Sirichantaropas, chief executive of New Energy Plus, proposed that the government introduce low-interest loans capped at 3% to help households and SMEs finance installations.
“This is a long-term solution for people to survive the energy crisis,” he said, noting that savings from reduced grid dependence could be reinvested into solar systems.
Meanwhile, Prime Road Power, a SET-listed solar farm operator, sees growing opportunities in residential projects. Chairman Somprasong Panjalak said that the crisis is accelerating lifestyle adjustments, with solar self-generation emerging as the most practical option.
Adding pressure to the market, Chinese solar panel prices are rising as Beijing plans to gradually scrap export value-added tax rebates from April 1, a move aimed at curbing oversupply and easing trade tensions.
In Thailand, electricity prices are expected to follow LNG costs. The government is likely to instruct the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and PTT Plc, the country’s main LNG importer, to subsidise the power tariff, analysts note.
The Energy Regulatory Commission is expected to release details soon regarding the financial burden these state enterprises will shoulder.
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