Government to consider rise in electricity charges

BANGKOK: The Thai Cabinet is to consider a proposal from the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to raise electricity prices as an alternative to pushing through a contentious privatization plan. The proposal from EGAT is that electricity prices should be increased by 8.51 satang per unit as a way to wipe out EGAT’s 250 billion baht debt. The privatization plan, which would have seen one third of the authority’s power plant in Ratchaburi sold to the private sector, met hefty opposition from both top management and workers. The Cabinet will examine the alternatives and is expected to come to a decision within the next month. If the decision goes in favor of a hike in electricity charges, the increase may be brought in immediately, possibly as early as August.