Background

As a result of social expansion and economic growth, the electricity demand of Thailand has been continuously increasing. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) responsible for providing power supply for the whole country, has to construct new power plants. To do so, it requires huge investment. Moreover, the increasing price of imported fuel impacts on the production cost of products and services.

On December 3, 1991 , The Cabinet of the Royal Thai Government passed a resolution approving the establishment of the Demand Side Management Program (DSM) as a new department of EGAT. DSM’s mission is to promote the efficient use of electricity in Thailand . The first DSM program made its official debut on September 20, 1993 under the slogan “Together in Conservation”. Since then, EGAT has introduced the Energy Label No. 5 Project to the Thai people to promote energy efficient appliance utilization.

The project has been continued until now. Implementing DSM Program, EGAT has strictly followed the policy of the Ministry of Energy and has also been a member of Energy Efficiency Standard Committee responsible for the Energy Label No. 5 Project.

DSM Objectives

To persuade local manufacturers and importers to produce and import energy efficient appliances with affordable prices.

To motivate and create energy conservation awareness through efficient energy utilization acknowledgement.

To provide alternative energy efficient products for consumers .

To search for modern technology in energy efficiency and load management for the utmost benefit of the country.

Project Implementation

To implement the Energy Label No.5 Project, EGAT has acknowledged and motivated Thai people to utilize energy efficiently. DSM target groups are categorized into 3 sectors—residential sector, commercial sector and industrial sector. The successful implementation of the program rests with strategies that suits the need of Thai society are the “ AAA ” concept. This concept stresses the importance of “Energy Efficient Appliance”, “Energy Efficient Architecture” and “Energy Efficient Attitude”.

The concept of “Energy Efficient Appliance” focuses on promoting the use of high efficient appliances in lieu of low energy efficient alternatives.

As residential sector accounts for 25 % of the country’s energy consumption, this sector is thus the main target of the program promoting the use of energy efficient appliances. EGAT has stimulated local manufacturers and importers to produce and import high efficient appliances.

he efforts kicked off with the Energy Efficient Fluorescent Program, which has been an enormous success. EGAT successfully persuaded consumers to use high efficiency tubes (thin tubes) instead of low efficiency fat tube, eventually wiping fat tubes off the market. It has also spawned many other high efficiency equipments such as refrigerator, air-conditioner, ballast, compact fluorescent lamp, electric fan, etc.

The Energy Label No.5 products spans the following programs:

•  1993 – The Energy Efficient Fluorescent Program
•  1994 – The Energy Efficient Refrigerator Program
•  1995 – The Energy Efficient Air-conditioner Program
•  1996 – The Energy Efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamp Program
•  1998 – The Energy Efficient Ballast Program
•  1999 – The Nutritious Brown Rice Program
•  2001 – The Energy Efficient Electric Fan Program
•  2004 – The Energy Efficient Electric Rice Cooker Program
•  2004 – The Energy Efficient Electric L uminaire Program
•  2007 – The Energy Efficient T5 Electronic Ballast Program
•  2008 – The Energy Efficient Double Oscillating Fan Program
•  2009 – The High Efficiency T5 Fluorescent Program
•  2010 – The 1 Watt Standby Power for Television and Computer Monitor Program