Monthly electric bills during the May-to-August period this year are expected to average 3.5966 baht per kilowatt-hour, same as in January to April, due to a stable fuel tariff (Ft) rate.
According to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), power bills are largely in line with a decreased Ft rate of 15.90 satang per kilowatt-hour, caused by higher natural gas supply.
Viraphol Jirapraditkul, an ERC commissioner and spokesman, said fuel prices during May to August are in an upcycle trend. Natural gas in particular is expected to increase by another 12.51 baht per million British thermal units to 262.02 baht.
Moreover, the baht is poised to rise from 33.32 to the US dollar for the January-to-April period to 32.05 baht during May to August. This factor is expected to affect fuel pricing by an additional 3.77 satang per kilowatt-hour.
But Mr Viraphol said the agency had accumulated funds from the middle of last year until now, and aims to peg the FT rate from September to December.
"All of these factors are set to increase power bills, but the ERC predicts the fixed rate won't place a financial burden on power consumers," he said.
The ERC said power demand during the May-to-August period is set to rise by 8.3% to 67.3 billion kilowatt-hours.
Natural gas still makes up a large proportion of the country's power generation at 60.5% while electricity purchased from Laos represents 13.2%.
Lignite and imported coal come next at 8.8% and 8.69%, respectively.
Some fuel prices are increasing, such as bunker oil at 18.06 baht per litre, up 89 satang. Imported coal has risen by 32.87 baht per tonne to 2,460.36 baht.
But diesel dropped slightly by six satang to 22.3 baht per litre and lignite is stable at 693 baht per tonne.
The ERC estimates that the feed-in tariff for state utilities purchasing power from renewable operators during May to August will total 14.57 billion baht, up from 14.494 billion in the prior period.
But the commission forecasts power demand to rise as the ERC fixes the FT rate, so the price per kilowatt-hour is expected to decrease by a further 1.88 satang to 23.7 satang for the May-to-August period.