PEA to submit B135bn Capex plan to NCPO

PEA to submit B135bn Capex plan to NCPO

Plan covers rewiring tourist destinations

The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) will submit its five-year capital expenditure (Capex) plan worth more than 135 billion baht for the consideration of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Teerawat Watarakitpaisarn, director of the system planning department, said the Capex would cover 2015-19. The plan was proposed to the Yingluck Shinawatra government and was delayed because the former premier was ordered to resign by the Constitutional Court, leaving no decision-making body in place.

The new Capex includes the 78.9-billion-baht expansion of electricity services and transmission. It will also include the 20-billion-baht underground wire project in 12 major tourist cities.

Other plans include enhancing the transmission system worth 13.6 billion baht and electricity services in remote areas worth 10.4 billion.

Next year, the smart grid project will be launched in Pattaya, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

The Capex will also include a renewable energy project worth 34.1 billion baht as the utility authority plans to diversify business through its wholly owned subsidiary PEA Encomp Co.

The Capex is expected to be screened by the Energy Regulatory Commission soon before it is passed on to the NCPO, said Mr Teerawat.

The PEA yesterday announced a plan to rearrange cable and telecommunication lines that currently utilise PEA electricity poles nationwide.

PEA deputy governor Thitikun Boonyakarn said the telecommunication and cable TV markets have grown rapidly in the last 10 years. As a result, some electricity poles are loaded with more than 30 lines excluding electricity wires.

Thailand, excluding Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan, has a total of 600 cable TV operators and more than 5 million fixed-line telephone users plus several million internet users.

"The problem is that many wires do not comply with PEA safety standards. Consequently, they frequently catch fire during peak communication hours and the poles sometimes collapse due to the weight and storms," he said.

PEA this year will start rearranging telecom and TV cable wires in Chiang Mai under a pilot project. It expects all of Chiang Mai municipal area to be rearranged within the first half of next year with a total budget of 9 million baht. Next in line are Pattaya, Udon Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Meanwhile, PEA chairman Wiboon Sanguanpong resigned last week in order to chair the newly created State Enterprise Policy Commission.

The position of PEA chairman will remain vacant pending a decision by the remaining 14 members of the board to select a replacement.

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