Private sector joins scheme to lower energy consumption during peak

BANGKOK, January 4 (TNA) - The Thai private sector has agreed to participate in the caretaker government's project on reducing domestic energy consumption during its peak. Pallapa Ruangrong, a member of the government-run Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), told reporters on Saturday that she is happy to see a number of private firms having agreed to join the "Thailand Demand Response" project, including, Central Department Store, Tesco Lotus, SCG group, as well as iron and steel industrial groups. Pallapa said the participating private businesses have agreed to reduce its energy consumption during peak hours by over 100 megawatts so far, which helps alleviate the risk of insufficient power and blackout during Myanmar's suspension of its gas supply to Thailand, from December 31, 2013-January 14, 2014, for the annual maintenance of its gas field. Pallapa pointed out although the participating private companies will not reduce a lot of their energy usage, it is considered a good start for domestic energy conservation and it will lead to more similar projects in the future. According to the ERC member, if participating private firms reduce their energy consumption by 200 megawatts, it will help Thailand save the cost of bunker oil by 25.2 million baht and reduce the electricity cost by about 0.05 baht per unit. The ERC, three state-run electricity generating authorities in Thailand and the private sector have jointly launched the Thailand Demand Response, set from January 8-10, 2014, aimed to help ease impacts from the two-week gas supply suspension from neighbouring Myanmar, with more participants in the project welcomed until January 7, 2014.(TNA)