Policy panel passes energy-saving plan
SOONRUTH BUNYAMANEE & AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
All television channels, including cable TV stations, and community radio stations will be asked to close by midnight from now until August as part of energy-saving measures generated by the Energy Policy Committee.
They were part of a package of energy-saving measures approved at yesterday's meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krue-ngam.
The effectiveness of the measures will be evaluated after August. If they prove to be ineffective or energy consumption was reduced by less than 10%, compulsory measures would then be introduced, said Metta Bantherngsuk, director of the Energy Policy and Planning Office, said.
Under the proposals, all television and community radio stations will be asked to go off the air no later than midnight, all golf courses will be asked to turn off unnecessary lights and government offices will be asked to set air-conditioners to 25C during 9am-4pm, and to switch them off for an hour during lunch break.
All law enforcement offices, particularly the Royal Thai Police Office, are to strictly enforce the speed limits _ 90km per hour on general roads, 110kph on expressways and 120kph on motorways.
Operators of city and inter-provincial buses yesterday sought government permission to increase their fares.
The proposal was turned down by Deputy Transport Minister Adisorn Piengkes, who said the government does not have a policy of allowing bus fares to be increased, despite the rise in the price of diesel.
But the Transport Ministry will introduce measures to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices, such as finding sources of cheap fuel and low-cost spare parts and equipment, he said.
''The government will certainly not allow fares to go up during this time because there was an increment only about a month ago. However, we know entrepreneurs are being hit and are now in trouble,'' the deputy minister said.
Apiwut Thongkham, president of the BMTA franchise of buses and minibuses, proposed that fares for regular buses and air-conditioned buses go up by two baht, while those for minibuses go up by 1.50 baht.
Regular buses now charge a flat rate of six baht, and tickets for air-conditioned buses go from nine to 11 baht. Minibus fares are 4.50 baht.
Mr Apiwut said the higher diesel price meant over 5,000 operators were in trouble. They had no other choice but to increase fares or stop their services, he said.
Viroj Wongthires, secretary-general of the short-route inter-provincial buses association, wanted fares to go up 2-3 satang per km for buses running over a distance of 40-150km and 2 satang per km for buses running over a distance of more than 150km.
Suchinda Cherdchai, president of the long-route inter-provincial buses association, wanted to raise fares by six satang per km.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives plans to request approval from the cabinet to help fishermen modify their boat engines to use NGV (natural gas for vehicles) as fuel instead of diesel.
Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Newin Chidchob said yesterday that the Ministry of Energy and the National Fisheries Association of Thailand will together study the possibility. The result should be known within a month.
''If successful, fuel costs should be cut by 40%,'' Mr Newin said.
Source: Bangkok Post
Get ready for a TV curfew
Was talking to a bar owner yeaterday who was going to get the pay to view package through UBC for The Ashes series. That shouldn't be affected because of time difference, but it's another logical move isn't it? Isn't it? 
I can remember the edict that petrol stations had to close at midnight to save fuel.. Maybe that extra few yards going in to refuel and then exit would have made a difference?
Total madness.
As an aside, do you turn your aircon down between midday and 2pm? Do you switch off all your lights at night.
I keep the bathroom light on because I'm scared of the dark and may need to make it there in a hurry if I've had a heavy night on the beer or particulrly hot food.
I can remember the edict that petrol stations had to close at midnight to save fuel.. Maybe that extra few yards going in to refuel and then exit would have made a difference?
Total madness.
As an aside, do you turn your aircon down between midday and 2pm? Do you switch off all your lights at night.
I keep the bathroom light on because I'm scared of the dark and may need to make it there in a hurry if I've had a heavy night on the beer or particulrly hot food.
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SHADOW
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These guys must be the laughing stock of the rest of the world. They drive around Thailand fly to mobile cabinet meetings, set up tents with twenty of thirty air con units. "How do we save energy"?
Does the Government have a secret agenda, Gas stations midnight, Bars midnight, Disco's midnight, internet ten pm. Will they announce Thailand's bed time is midnight and anyone seen on the streets after this time will be given Prozac and told to go home.
Will we soon have a Thai version of AR P's roaming the streets shouting "Put that light out"
This whole thing is not about energy it's about saving oil, or rather buying less of it. Is it not about time that Thailand's love affair with the plastic bag ended. These cost oil to make and mess up the country side forever.
Stop making two strokes. Honda have
Enforce the speed limit. Not likely
Car pool lanes in Bangkok. No friends or lane available
Double the road tax (it's so cheap anyway) Doubtful
IMHO Mr Thaksin is more worried about inflation and the huge amount of house hold debt. The price of fuel is the price of fuel factories should have better energy management
What about day light saving
As usual decisions are made too quickly with no thought about the long term, it's not just your average Thai who can't see past today. And finally Mr T do you need that plane, if you flew using another countries airline and fuel you would make a major saving.
I'm sure most people know the translation of Thailand, or should we go back to Siam.
Does the Government have a secret agenda, Gas stations midnight, Bars midnight, Disco's midnight, internet ten pm. Will they announce Thailand's bed time is midnight and anyone seen on the streets after this time will be given Prozac and told to go home.
Will we soon have a Thai version of AR P's roaming the streets shouting "Put that light out"
This whole thing is not about energy it's about saving oil, or rather buying less of it. Is it not about time that Thailand's love affair with the plastic bag ended. These cost oil to make and mess up the country side forever.
Stop making two strokes. Honda have
Enforce the speed limit. Not likely
Car pool lanes in Bangkok. No friends or lane available
Double the road tax (it's so cheap anyway) Doubtful
IMHO Mr Thaksin is more worried about inflation and the huge amount of house hold debt. The price of fuel is the price of fuel factories should have better energy management
What about day light saving
As usual decisions are made too quickly with no thought about the long term, it's not just your average Thai who can't see past today. And finally Mr T do you need that plane, if you flew using another countries airline and fuel you would make a major saving.
I'm sure most people know the translation of Thailand, or should we go back to Siam.
There's no such thing as a free lunch
Governments are governments, politicians are politicians.These guys must be the laughing stock of the rest of the world.
Do you think they care. Dubbya and Tony BLiar get away with conning the people. Thick skinned doesn't come into it!
'Dub n Tone' probably wish that they could follow the Thai model, so that someone, somewhere could be on a nice little earner...........
Oh, how are the Cherie (or should I say the "First Lady of Downing Street") speaches coming on? ............now there is a nice little earner.
Cynical -who me??
tv off at 12
i phoned ubc and asked about tv off at 12 as i pay for 24 hour tv first they said had so many phoecalls from farang asking for refund
and when she checked she told me the tv would not be going off at 12
who do you belive
and when she checked she told me the tv would not be going off at 12
who do you belive