YUTHANA PRAIWAN
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has cut its projection of power consumption growth this year in Greater Bangkok to 1.85% from 3.3% estimated earlier due to the slowing economy.
According to MEA governor Pornthep Thanyapongchai, consumption growth in the first half of this year was far below projections at 1.8% even though the March-May summer season was the peak period for air-conditioner use.
Therefore, it determined the earlier projection of 3.3% was unrealistic. ''We decided to revise down our growth target to a more realistic figure,'' she said.
Factors curbing power demand have included high oil prices and sluggishess in the property market, while power consumers are also becoming more concerned about energy efficiency and conservation.
The state utility expects to see its sales reach 135 billion baht this year in line with the new projection.
To reflect higher production costs, the MEA has also cut its net profit projection this year to five billion baht from six billion last year.
Ms Pornthep said the MEA would also ask the Energy Regulatory Commission to review the subsidy budgeted for the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), which has been fixed at 10 billion baht per year for the past several years.
The subsidy from the MEA reflects the higher costs the PEA faces in serving rural areas, especially remote parts of the country, but Ms Pornthep said the PEA was no longer recording such high losses as it did in the past.
The MEA service network covers Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan with 2.7 million households.
Because the electricity network now covers nearly 100% of consumers countrywide, the PEA would not need to invest as heavily in network development.
''We hope to see the subsidy amount reviewed year by year in line with the PEA's actual losses instead of fixing it at 10 billion baht as usual,'' she said.
The MEA has set an investment budget at 24.39 billion baht for its projects in the pipeline, including underground power lines along skytrain and subway lines, as well as power transmission upgrades.
For this year, it capital expenses stood at 10 billion baht, half which will be financed by cash from operations and the rest by selling bonds, expected to be issued in August or September.
The MEA also plans to seek to acquire a 50% stake in PTT Plc's power generation and district cooling plant, Combined Heat and Cooling Ltd (CHC), following the signing of a memorandum of understanding recently. It needs to seek approval from the cabinet first.
CHC operates a 500-million-baht power generation and district cooling plant in the new government centre at Chaeng Watthana. The project will start to generate sales of 150 million baht annually in 2010.
Mr Pornthep said CHC's cooling system would be built along with PTT's four-billion baht onshore gas pipeline across greater Bangkok, with construction to start next year and finish in 2013.
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has cut its projection of power consumption growth this year in Greater Bangkok to 1.85% from 3.3% estimated earlier due to the slowing economy.
According to MEA governor Pornthep Thanyapongchai, consumption growth in the first half of this year was far below projections at 1.8% even though the March-May summer season was the peak period for air-conditioner use.
Therefore, it determined the earlier projection of 3.3% was unrealistic. ''We decided to revise down our growth target to a more realistic figure,'' she said.
Factors curbing power demand have included high oil prices and sluggishess in the property market, while power consumers are also becoming more concerned about energy efficiency and conservation.
The state utility expects to see its sales reach 135 billion baht this year in line with the new projection.
To reflect higher production costs, the MEA has also cut its net profit projection this year to five billion baht from six billion last year.
Ms Pornthep said the MEA would also ask the Energy Regulatory Commission to review the subsidy budgeted for the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), which has been fixed at 10 billion baht per year for the past several years.
The subsidy from the MEA reflects the higher costs the PEA faces in serving rural areas, especially remote parts of the country, but Ms Pornthep said the PEA was no longer recording such high losses as it did in the past.
The MEA service network covers Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan with 2.7 million households.
Because the electricity network now covers nearly 100% of consumers countrywide, the PEA would not need to invest as heavily in network development.
''We hope to see the subsidy amount reviewed year by year in line with the PEA's actual losses instead of fixing it at 10 billion baht as usual,'' she said.
The MEA has set an investment budget at 24.39 billion baht for its projects in the pipeline, including underground power lines along skytrain and subway lines, as well as power transmission upgrades.
For this year, it capital expenses stood at 10 billion baht, half which will be financed by cash from operations and the rest by selling bonds, expected to be issued in August or September.
The MEA also plans to seek to acquire a 50% stake in PTT Plc's power generation and district cooling plant, Combined Heat and Cooling Ltd (CHC), following the signing of a memorandum of understanding recently. It needs to seek approval from the cabinet first.
CHC operates a 500-million-baht power generation and district cooling plant in the new government centre at Chaeng Watthana. The project will start to generate sales of 150 million baht annually in 2010.
Mr Pornthep said CHC's cooling system would be built along with PTT's four-billion baht onshore gas pipeline across greater Bangkok, with construction to start next year and finish in 2013.
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
ThailandBuzz is a web application that allows you to submit an article that will be reviewed by all and will be promoted, based on popularity, to the main page
abhisit vejjajiva
anupong paojinda
ayutthaya
bangkok
bangkok governor
bank of thailand
chamlong srimuang
chart thai
chiang mai
corruption
galyani vadhana
government house
narathiwat
noppadon pattama
pad
pattani
people power party
people's alliance for democracy
phuket
ppp
preah vihear temple
princess galyani vadhana
samak
samak sundaravej
somchai
somchai wongsawat
stock exchange of thailand
suvarnabhumi airport
thai
thai airways
thai boxers
thai politics
thai society
thailand
thais
thaksin
thaksin shinawatra
tot
yala
yongyuth tiyapairat
ไทยแลนด์บัซซ์ เวอร์ชั่นภาษาไทย
Comments