Focuses on innovation, digital technology & platforms, smart grid and renewable energy to serve customer consumption and ensure sustainable energy provision
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) is transforming into a digital utility to enhance the quality, standard and reliability of electricity distribution. PEA emphasises customer relationship management to meet customer expectations, including: full electrical service via digital platforms; launching several projects to support strong grid and smart grid for household, businesses and industrial sectors; providing additional services and new business related to the core mission with partners, and; continually developing corporate shared value to achieve the most effective ecosystem.
Mr. Supachai Ek-un, the Provincial Electricity Authority Governor, talked about electricity consumption in Thailand during January-August 2021. He said PEA had a total of 93,569 million units, an increase of 3.14 percent compared to the same period last year.
“Household sector consumption increased by 1.42 percent due to government measures to control the spread of COVID-19, advising people to work and study from home,” he said. “For the industrial sector, electricity usage grew by 8.24 percent, following economic recovery and increasing production for exports, especially in the automotive, steel and plastics industries.”
“Although the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in reduced electricity consumption by department stores and hospitality sectors, household and manufacturing electricity demand has been increasing continuously.”
“PEA has prepared all measures to supply electricity continuously and sufficiently based on customer needs. At the same time, PEA is enhancing the quality of electricity distribution and services in line with the trend of electrical power consumption and meet market demand along while adhering to environmental awareness.”
“PEA has innovated and brought in technology to support its performance, including customer relationship management, personnel management, digital platforms and various applications to serve each business area. PEA’s planned projects include renewable energy and energy conservation. They also include distribution system improvement using digital technology. That includes a Smart Grid development project under which 116,308 smart meters have already been installed in Pattaya, with expansion to additional areas in progress. In addition, a microgrid project aims to develop very small grid power systems in remote areas. Plus we have projects to install solar power generation systems on the roofs of 204 PEA office buildings. And then there’s a Net Zero Energy Building project at the Provincial Electricity Authority, Nakhon Chai Si District, Nakhon Pathom Province. Plus a joint venture with Finland to open a power plant in Rayong Province which will begin output in January 2022.”
“New technologies have been implemented to prepare for the emerging energy trends. For example, battery storage has been installed to reduce the power outage problem and increase power quality and reliability. Other smart solutions have been adopted to smarten the system such as Automatic Meter Reading (AMI). Moreover, the increasing demand for electricity by EVs is also being acted upon, especially regarding charging stations, while at the same time embracing the global trend towards renewable energies.”
“PEA has also set out guidelines for using digital technology to drive and support stable and sustainable power grid management. This will support complex networks in the future and increase management efficiency. Included is the development of various platforms to manage or improve work processes to speed up work and reduce costs. Satellite technology and collaboration with other professional and ethical agencies and organisations is ongoing to enhance potential to meet future electricity consumption.”
PEA recently joined hands with government and private sectors to organise ASEAN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY WEEK & PUMPS AND VALVES ASIA 2021 (ASEW & PVA) - Virtual Edition, a key exhibition of innovations and technologies for energy sustainability in the ASEAN region, taking the form of an online platform.
PEA presented technologies that it has jointly developed and applied to increase work efficiency and meet the needs of customers at all levels.
This includes PEA Care and Service, an application that provides a One-Stop-Service covering electrical system maintenance, security checking, and changing equipment. Users can easily and quickly notify their needs via the application.
Another innovation, PEA IHAPM targets intelligent energy control via smartphones. Users are enabled to turn electrical appliances on and off using their mobile phone wherever they are. They can also monitor their electricity usage and be alerted of anything unusual with their electrical appliances. This is all controlled by an artificial intelligence (AI) system.
PEA Solar Energy Solutions is a service whereby electric users interested in energy conservation and using solar energy can have PEA design, install, and comprehensively manage energy for them.
PEA Volta Platform provides electric vehicle charging services through a digital platform developed by PEA. The platform facilitates electric vehicle users and electric charging station operators to conveniently use the service via the PEA VOLTA Platform network. Some 57 electric charging stations and PEA VOLTA charging stations currently comprise the network and PEA aims to bring the total to 263 stations by 2023. By that time, the network will cover the country’s main highways with a charging station every 100 kilometre.
“Besides exchanging innovations and energy technology, the ASEW & PVA 2021 – Virtual Edition showed the support of all sectors to advance the country’s and the ASEAN region’s energy sustainability,” continued Mr. Supachai.
“PEA is ready to continue cooperation at all levels and aims to develop and implement technologies and innovations to increase the potential of electricity usage in all conditions so people can be confident of always being supported in their activities.”
“No matter what the future brings, PEA is ready to provide a strong power distribution system that is intelligent, stable, safe, and sufficient to the needs of all. We are also ready to promote and drive clean energy adoption to ensure a sustainable future.”
Follow the diversity of digital technology, including clean energy innovations, PEA is implementing to ensure energy security at https://www.pea.co.th
