Safety
Concerns Raised Over Thailand's PDP 2026 Power Demand Forecasts
Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has expressed reservations regarding the accuracy of the 2026 Power Development Plan, warning that inflated demand projections could lead to higher electricity costs for the public.
Overview of the PDP 2026 Critique
Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, leader of the United Thai Nation Party and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, has publicly scrutinized the draft of the 2026 Power Development Plan (PDP 2026). According to a report by Thai Post on September 12, 2026, Pirapan raised significant concerns regarding the methodology used to forecast national electricity consumption.
Potential Impact on Residents
Pirapan warned that the current draft may be overestimating future power demand. He cautioned that if the government relies on these inflated figures to plan infrastructure and capacity, it could result in an unnecessary surplus of power generation. For residents and businesses in Thailand, this is a critical issue, as the costs associated with maintaining excess capacity are typically passed on to consumers through electricity tariffs. If the projections are indeed inaccurate, the public risks bearing a heavier financial burden than necessary for their utility services.
Current Status
As of now, the PDP 2026 remains in the draft stage. While Pirapan has highlighted these risks, the finalization of the plan and the specific adjustments to the demand forecasts remain to be confirmed. Stakeholders and the public are awaiting further revisions to see if the Ministry of Energy will address these concerns regarding the accuracy of the consumption estimates before the plan is officially adopted.
