Urgent Inspections Launched for Faulty Solar Installations
Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi from the Prime Minister’s Office has directed officials to accelerate an investigation into solar installation firms accused of employing substandard materials and hazardous practices.
Consumer complaints highlight systems that fail to lower electricity costs as advertised, while posing serious dangers such as overheating devices, melting parts, burning odors, and sparks that almost ignited fires.
Product Label Checks Nationwide
The Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) plans to examine labels on solar photovoltaic panels, inverters, and batteries across the country. These inspections aim to confirm adherence to Thai Industrial Standards certification.
Minister Supamas emphasized that clear labels enable buyers to check essential product details, especially for electrical items that impact safety and assets.
Strict Regulations and Penalties
Solar panels, inverters, and batteries fall under controlled-label products per the Consumer Protection Act. Operators must supply precise and full information.
Sellers risk up to six months in prison and 100,000-baht fines for violations. Manufacturers and importers could face one year imprisonment and fines up to 200,000 baht.
Key Installation Flaws Identified
Reports detail installers switching from three-phase to single-phase electrical systems, substituting aluminum for copper wires, and skipping adequate grounding. These shortcuts lead to voltage instability, blackouts, and elevated fire threats.
Early assessments reveal some providers promote services online without detailing equipment specs in agreements, hindering quality verification prior to setup.
Business Owners Report Failures
Business operators, including a clinic in Bangkok and a restaurant owner in Saraburi, invested hundreds of thousands of baht in systems that did not deliver promised savings.
One affected party noted that installation crews seemed unskilled, relying on YouTube videos during the process.
Proposed Regulatory Enhancements
Authorities contemplate designating solar installation services as contract-controlled businesses and labeling solar gear as specially controlled products. Efforts include collaboration with the Thai Industrial Standards Institute and power authorities.
