The caretaker cabinet will submit a new proposal to the Election Commission (EC) seeking approval for a reduced 10.464-billion-baht subsidy for household power bills, 648 million baht less than the previous request that was rejected by the regulator.
The first proposal was for a 11.112-billion-baht subsidy, drawn from the government's central fund.
In rejecting that idea last week, the EC explained that the supporting document had failed to mention it stemmed from a cabinet resolution.
Anucha Burapachaisri, the government's acting spokesman, said the caretaker cabinet approved a new proposal yesterday for the use of the reduced sum from the central fund to subsidise household power bills.
The caretaker cabinet has limited financial authority pending the formation of a new government after the May 14 general election.
There are two measures included in the proposal, Mr Anucha said.
The current power subsidy would be extended for another four months until August for 18.32 million households that use less than 300 units per month.
About 6,954 million baht would be drawn from the central fund, down from the initially proposed 7.602 billion baht after the Energy Regulatory Commission cut charges by 7 satang per unit for four months.
Households that use 1-150 units a month would get a reduction of 92.04 satang per unit -- with the Ft charge lowered by 1.39 satang per unit.
Those using 151-300 units per month would get a reduction of 67.04 satang per unit -- with the Ft charge slashed by 26.39 satang per unit.
Under the second measure, households that use no more than 500 units would get a reduction of 150 baht each for the month of May only.
This would require a subsidy of 3.510 billion baht and benefit about 23.4 million households, Mr Anucha said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the government's measures to subsidise people's electricity bills have only been guaranteed to apply for their bills for May.
He said the caretake cabinet hoped the EC would pass the revisited compensation measures within the timeframe of this month's bill.
