Thai President and candidate for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said he was not the only one to blame for the high electricity tariffs in March and April and urged the coalition partners not to attack each other. In turn, the Democratic Party and the Palang Pratcharat Party promised voters a reduction in the cost of electricity in their election campaigns.
However, who is still responsible for high electricity tariffs?
Decisions of the Cabinet, in which the ministers of the coalition partners sit, are taken collectively. Thus, all members of the government are responsible for this, not just the prime minister.
At the same time, electricity tariffs in Thailand are indeed very high and this makes life difficult for many citizens, especially those with low incomes.
What steps should be taken to solve this problem?
First, the government could continue the electricity subsidy program for low-income people. This will help reduce the burden on their budget and make life more comfortable.
Secondly, the electricity tariff system can be reviewed and changes can be made that will help reduce the cost of electricity. For example, it is possible to waive the so-called "float time" or FT fee, which is one of the main reasons for high electricity tariffs.
Finally, the government can also support the use of renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power, which will help reduce Thailand's dependence on imported fuel and reduce the cost of generating electricity.
