Data centers are notorious power guzzlers, but they are also a priority industry for Thailand. Seeking to strike a balance, the country’s Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is considering requiring developers to post a guarantee and pay higher electricity tariffs to safeguard power supplies and prevent the sector’s rapid expansion from driving up household electricity bills

The new rules are expected to take effect in the fourth quarter, signaling Thailand’s shift from pursuing scale to prioritizing the quality of investment.

Thailand plans special committee to oversee data center rules

Thailand’s cabinet on Aug. 5 approved a draft Prime Minister’s Office Regulation that would establish a Data Center Business Policy Committee chaired by a deputy prime minister. The committee would be responsible for setting rules governing data centers’ electricity and water use, as well as reviewing and issuing relevant licences.