The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) says it is too early to conclude that electricity prices will fall as more data centres are developed in the country.
Kan Saengruang, deputy secretary-general of the ERC, said that projections by stock market analysts suggesting lower power bills remained “inconclusive”.
Analysts argue that the arrival of electricity-hungry data centres could reshape the country’s power payment system, potentially easing costs for households and businesses.
At the centre of the debate is the availability payment (AP), a mechanism under power purchase agreements (PPAs) that requires the government to pay electricity producers for contracted supply, even if actual usage is lower. While the AP guarantees a stable electricity supply during demand surges, it also raises tariffs, which directly affect consumer bills.
Analysts believe data centres, which consume vast amounts of electricity, could help to absorb part of this financial burden. That would mean households and businesses pay less for unused electricity.
But Mr Kan cautioned that Thailand’s data centre industry is still in its early stages, with no clear figures on consumption patterns or peak demand.
“The start of the data business in Thailand may consume little electricity,” he said, adding that the Provincial Electricity Authority and Metropolitan Electricity Authority have not reported significant increases in demand from data centres.
Thailand’s peak electricity usage this year was recorded on March 29, when consumption hit 33,658.3 megawatts at 8.33pm, with temperatures exceeding 36°C. That figure was well below the country’s contracted capacity of nearly 52,000MW as of June, leaving a 36% surplus.
Data centre operators can purchase renewable energy directly under a new direct PPA scheme starting in January.
ERC secretary-general Poonpat Leesombatpiboon said the pilot programme, with a generation capacity of 2 gigawatts, is designed to attract investment by allowing power producers to sell electricity directly to clients.
Although peer-to-peer renewable energy trading is not permitted in Thailand, the direct PPA scheme offers data centre operators access to clean power. Details of the programme, including third-party access rules, wheeling charges for using state transmission lines and trade regulations, will be finalised after approval by the Energy Policy Administration Committee.
“A public hearing and service fee discussions have already been completed,” said Mr Poonpat.
Authorities have spent months pushing for the launch of the direct PPA scheme after the National Energy Policy Council approved in June last year a pilot direct PPA to support foreign investors who want renewable energy to run their businesses.
The government previously invited foreign companies specialising in data centre development to invest in Thailand, but they sought clarity about the direct PPA policy.