Consumers to contribute to renewable energy fund
Power users will be charged more on their electricity bills next year to help the government develop green energy, says Direk Lavansiri, chairman of the Office of the Energy Regulatory Board."We think this encourages people to participate in our campaign and raises energy conservation awareness," said Dr Direk.
Under the Energy Fund Tax law, the government can set up four funds from proceeds raised from power consumers.
One fund is for local communities around power plants, another is to develop and conserve renewable energy, another is for educating the public on the efficient use of power and the last one covers the operating expenses for the funds.
Dr Direk said the law aimed to include power users to help develop the power sector together with producers and regulators. The government wants public participation in the development of power plants rather than protests, he added.
"The concept is quite similar to the State Oil Fund, but instead of asking solely power producers to contribute, users are required to provide some money to help the country develop expensive facilities that can help save the environment, which we all use," said Dr Direk.The Energy for Environment Foundation, a non-profit organisation currently managed by the Energy Policy and Planning Office, is now conducting the feasibility study.
Only the fund to help communities around power plants has gone into effect. This fund is required by law to set up one account for each plant with the plant operator the sole contributor to the fund at a rate of one to two satang a unit, as the producer is expected to develop the community to offset any environmental damage the plant creates. There are 72 such funds nationwide.
Natee Sithiprasasana, CEO of A.T. Biopower, said consumers should contribute to the funds because users create the demand for power, and renewable energies are costly to develop.
"Power production is a main emitter of CO2 and fossil fuel consumers should contribute and encourage renewable energies for a better environment," he said.
Palang Thai comment -- we're not sure that payments to communities that host conventional power plants should come from the same fund that pays for renewable energy and energy conservation...