2011 International Conference on Alternative Energy in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies
- 265 -
birthday of King Rama V. In 1897, The Bangkok
Electric Light Syndicate was first company used stream
turbine by variety fuels, firewood, coal, oil, rice husk,
and it was loss. In 1898, it
transferred business to “The
Siam Electricity Co., Ltd. It was registered in
Copenhagen, Denmark. The early era of most
electricity consumption was on Bangkok. In 1927,
government constructed a power plants and distributed
electricity into upcountry, Ratchaburi power plants. In
1929, established Nakronpathom power plants, and
during 1931-1939 electricity business has expanded to
several
provinces such as Prachinburi, Phuket,
Nakhon-Nayok, Chonburi,
Ban-Pong, Chanthaburi and
Chiangmai
.
At that time, we could say Thai electricity
regime was relative stable. The dominant regime was
fossil-base technology as diesel generator. The actors
were Sanitary office, Department of Health, Ministry
of Interior. The governance concerned to market
model.
After Second World War, the country has been
restored and expanded, economic sector had growth in
all areas and faced with electric power shortage. Later,
Thai government established government agencies,
responded to electric power system and sold electric to
the regions. During 1950-1969, national government
established many agencies, Bangkok Electricity
Authority in 1950, Organizational Power Authority;
they were upgraded to
Provincial Electricity Authority
(PEA.) and Power lignite organization in 1954, Yanhe
Electricity Organization in 1957, Metropolitan
Electricity Authority (MEA.) in 1958, Mae Moh Power
plant in 1959, and Northeast Electric Organization in
1962. Until, November 1, 1969: Government combined
three electricity authorities to Electricity Generating
Authority of Thailand (EGAT.), that is Power lignite
organization, Yanhe Electricity Organization and
Northeast Electric Organization. The objective was
providing electricity to support country
’s needs
and
maintain the stability of the power system. They were
state enterprise, responsible both of production and
electricity purchasing, and the owner of power
transmission line. The information shows that EGAT
was a single buyer structure. After established EGAT,
they constructed and installed a numerous of dam and
hydro power.
Before 1971, Thailand used 70 % of fuel oil in
electricity sector and a little were lignite and hydro
power. The oil crisis within 8 years, during 1973-1981,
oil price in Thailand increased 10 times, from
0.40
THB/litre to 4 THB/litre. The oil crisis of 1973 formed
an external landscape shock (Verbong and Geels,
2007). This crisis was starting point to improve the
plan that decreased fuel oil in electricity sector. In
1981, the first time that electricity sector introduced of
natural gas from the Gulf of Thailand and it has been
increasing to a main fuel in electricity. Currently
electricity sector were share of natural gas about 70%,
replaced fuel oil. The new important actor in electricity
regime was Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT),
fully integrated natural gas business covering the full
spectrum of natural gas businesses, exploration and
production from both domestic and oversea sources,
transportation of natural gas via pipeline system, gas
separation as well as marketing of natural gas and they
are an important EGAT trading partner.
Subsequently the privatization concept has spread in
the academic and government. Since they believed that
privatization could make administration more effective.
Reduce subsidies from state budget estimates and
EGAT was on Government's privatization policy.
Initially with revised Electricity Authority of Thailand
Act, BE 2511, effected on March 12, 1992. That EGAT
was able to co-invest with private sector. In 1992 and
2000; EGAT had registered two affiliates. In 2005,
EGAT registered as Electricity Generating Authority of
Thailand Public Company Limited and was providing
distribution of shares on the Stock market but opposed
by the labour union of EGAT. In 2005, Foundation of
Consumers and their partners filed institute legal
proceedings in the Administrative Court. The judgment
was privatization revocation and in 2006, EGAT were
back to state enterprise. Concomitant of privatization
concept were concept of purchase electricity from
private sector. In 1992, the Government has approved
the regulation for power purchase from Small Power
Producer (SPP); power capacity less than 60
Megawatts, later increased but not over 90 MW,
electricity produced using non conventional energy
such as biomass, renewable energy, and imposed to the
power generation by private investors as Independent
Power Producer (IPP), stipulate to IPP must sell
electricity to EGAT. In 2001, government has
purchased electricity from very small power producer
(VSPP), power capacity less than 1 MW. Currently,
EGAT continues to be responsible for planning;
expanding production source and transmission line,
production control and transmission system that aims
to maintain the stability of the system. At present,
EGAT purchase electricity from three private sectors as
IPP, SPP and VSPP and sell electricity to three
customer
’s parts
as Metropolitan Electricity Authority
(MEA); responsible for Bangkok, Nonthaburi and
Samut Prakan province, Provincial Electricity
Authority (PEA), responsible for nationwide except
MAE area and direct customer in industry sector.
Fig. 4 Electricity Agencies in Thailand.
Thailand electricity situation. Considering the trend
of electricity consumption over the past 20 years found
that in all economic sector electricity consumption
increased continuously and expect that it will have
