No 'backup' charge for home solar power users

Householders who produce their own solar power will not be charged a special "backup" tariff if they also remain connected to the power grid, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) said on Friday.

Spokesman Saharat Boonpotipukdee was responding to reports by some media outlets that a fee could be imposed on consumers who use rooftop solar panels to supply some of their power needs.

He said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is considering a special electricity rate for large commercial and industrial customers who produce some of their own power but maintain access to the national grid. 

This would not apply to households.

ERC spokesman Veerapol Jirapraditthakul said the tariff would target commercial and industrial customers such as shopping malls or factories, not small entrepreneurs or householders.

It was still not finally decided which groups would be required to pay the fee.

With the cost of renewable energy decreasing, several large electricity users had started producing their own power, but still also purchase power from the electricity authority.

The special tariff was being considered to cover the cost of maintaining a reliable power supply, Mr Veerapol said.