BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul chaired a National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) meeting at Government House on July 15, 2026. The council approved measures to lower household electricity costs and enhance the power system to support data center investment. Under Thailand’s 2026–2030 electricity tariff policy, the residential rate for the first 200 units will be reduced to 3 baht per unit. Rates for 201–400 units and for units above 400 will remain unchanged. Public-lighting costs, including street lighting, will be separated from general electricity charges and assigned a dedicated tariff structure.
The council also approved a requirement for data center operators to provide grid access guarantees, confirming their readiness before authorities invest in additional power infrastructure. Operators must also prepare water-management plans due to the sector’s significant cooling needs. The NEPC also approved expanded access to renewable electricity through direct power purchase agreements and third-party access to the national grid. This measure will apply to data centers and industrial operators seeking clean electricity directly from producers. (NNT)
