Abstract:
The objectives of this research were (1) to study the effectiveness of the implementation of the electricity conservation policy of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, (2) to study the campaign to conserve electricity by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, (3) to study the problems and barriers to electricity conservation by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and (4) to propose guidelines for the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to use in implementing its electricity conservation policy. This study used the qualitative research method, employing purposive sampling. In-depth interviews and focus groups were used to collect data. The samples used for this research consisted of key informants: five executives of the Ministry of Energy, four executives of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, 92 officers of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, six people involved with concerned organizations and 20 community leaders. The data was analyzed by using the content analysis which consisted of decoding, interpretation and analysis.
The findings were as follows:
Overall, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand had clear policies on substantially saving electric energy, on tracking and reporting the reduction of electrical consumption resulting from the use of technology to control electricity use, and on reporting to the main offices. While top executives had access to the results of numerical and statistical data generated by the information technology system, the managers and workers behavior and participation indicated a lack of awareness of electrical conservation and how to participate in conserving electricity. Also, there was no clear motivation for saving electrical energy, so only small groups participated; and community activities for electrical conservation had a continuing lack of consistency. Barriers to saving electrical energy were the attitudes and behaviors of most people in the organization. Guidelines for improving the effectiveness of the implementation of the electrical energy saving policy of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand were (1) developing better understanding by workers of electrical energy conservation, (2) improving the organizational culture with regard to electrical energy conservation, (3) developing a tracking and evaluation system based on effectiveness standards and (4) developing a supervision and monitoring system to provide forms of support for electricity conservation, with external agencies playing a role in monitoring the services.